Mastitis is the most costly and prevalent disease in dairy herds, causing significant pain and welfare compromise.
Mastitis is both a major welfare and economic problem in dairy farming. Clinical cases cause acute suffering — the inflamed udder is painful to touch, and affected cows show fever, reduced appetite, and depression. Subclinical mastitis, which is more prevalent but less visible, causes chronic pain and immune activation without clear clinical signs. Prevention through good hygiene, milking technique, and housing management reduces welfare burden significantly.