Farmed Animals

Sheep Mastitis: Prevention and Welfare

Mastitis is a painful udder infection common in dairy and suckling ewes. It is one of the most significant welfare and production challenges in sheep farming.

Key Facts

Mastitis causes inflammation, pain, and milk loss — acutely and chronically
Subclinical mastitis (no obvious signs) is widespread and often undetected in flocks
Staphylococcus and Mannheimia bacteria are the most common causative agents in sheep
Severe cases can result in gangrenous mastitis, requiring amputation or euthanasia
Lambs of affected ewes suffer reduced milk intake, leading to poor growth and higher mortality
Regular teat scoring and somatic cell count monitoring help detect cases early

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis is acutely painful and causes significant welfare harm. Ewes with untreated mastitis show reduced feed intake, social withdrawal, and postural changes indicating distress. Prompt treatment with antibiotics and anti-inflammatories reduces suffering duration. Prevention through good milking hygiene, dry-off therapy, and pre-lambing teat scoring dramatically reduces incidence. Culling persistently infected ewes is both welfare-appropriate and protects flock health.

What You Can Do

Farmers should implement regular somatic cell count testing and teat inspection programs
Use NSAID pain relief alongside antibiotic treatment for confirmed mastitis cases
Adopt good hygiene practices during lambing and milking to reduce infection risk
Support animal welfare codes that mandate pain relief for mastitis treatment in sheep