Mastitis is the most costly disease in dairy cattle and a significant source of chronic pain. Effective prevention programs improve individual cow welfare while also providing economic benefits to producers.
Mastitis is simultaneously one of the most economically costly and most welfare-significant diseases in dairy production, creating an alignment between commercial interest and animal welfare that should facilitate adoption of prevention programs. A cow with clinical mastitis experiences acute udder pain, fever, and systemic illness. Chronic or subclinical mastitis causes persistent low-grade pain that affects behavior, feeding, and social engagement over extended periods. The tools for prevention are well-established and cost-effective — teat dipping, clean housing, dry cow therapy, and early detection protocols. Farms that implement comprehensive mastitis prevention programs achieve both better welfare outcomes and better milk quality. Welfare certification standards that require mastitis prevention and treatment protocols create accountability for this pervasive source of dairy cow suffering.