Mastitis is the most costly disease in dairy farming and causes significant suffering, but is largely preventable through appropriate management and hygiene.
Clinical mastitis causes acute pain, fever, and reduced appetite that affect welfare profoundly. Chronic subclinical mastitis causes persistent discomfort and immune stress. Prevention through scrupulous milking hygiene, appropriate cow housing design, and dry cow management reduces incidence. Early detection and appropriate treatment minimises the duration and severity of suffering when infections do occur.