Mastitis in Dairy Cows | Animal Welfare Hub

Mastitis — infection of the udder — is the most costly and welfare-significant disease in dairy cattle, affecting millions of cows annually and causing significant pain.

Key Facts

Mastitis affects approximately 30% of dairy cows in the UK each year and is the leading cause of culling
Clinical mastitis causes visible inflammation, pain on touching, and behavioural signs of discomfort
Subclinical mastitis causes elevated somatic cell counts without visible signs, but still causes pain and welfare harm
Antibiotic treatment resolves many cases but recurrence is common; some cows become chronic cases
Prevention through teat hygiene, good milking routine, cubicle management, and nutrition is more effective than treatment

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis is one of the most painful and common welfare problems in dairy cattle. The acute phase of clinical mastitis causes severe udder pain — cows may kick when touched, show reduced appetite, and have elevated body temperature. Even subclinical mastitis, detectable only through elevated somatic cell counts, causes welfare harm. Prevention is more effective than treatment and requires good hygiene, nutrition, and housing management. Reducing mastitis incidence is one of the most impactful improvements a dairy farm can make for cow welfare.

What You Can Do

Support dairy certification standards that include low mastitis incidence targets
Choose dairy products from farms that report and reduce mastitis rates
Advocate for mastitis treatment protocols that include mandatory pain relief
Support research into mastitis prevention strategies including teat sealants and vaccination
Engage with the connection between mastitis prevention, antibiotic use reduction, and cow welfare