Livestock

Livestock Dairy Mastitis Prevention and Treatment

Mastitis is the most common and costly disease in dairy cows, causing chronic pain.

Key Facts

Mastitis affects 25-40% of dairy cows in the UK each year
Subclinical mastitis causes pain without visible signs and is often undetected
Automatic milking systems can monitor somatic cell counts to detect mastitis early
Dry cow therapy protocols prevent new infections during the dry period

Welfare Considerations

Cows with mastitis experience significant pain — the udder becomes hot, swollen, and painful to touch, and affected cows show reluctance to be milked, loss of appetite, and changes in behaviour. Subclinical mastitis, causing pain without obvious clinical signs, is often left untreated. Systematic monitoring and prompt treatment are essential welfare requirements in dairy production.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory mastitis monitoring and treatment protocols
Choose dairy products from farms with low somatic cell count targets
Advocate for mastitis prevention training requirements for dairy staff
Back research into early mastitis detection technology