Mastitis — inflammation of the mammary gland — is the most common and costly disease in dairy cattle, with prevention strategies that simultaneously improve animal welfare and reduce antibiotic dependency.
Mastitis is both a major welfare problem and a leading driver of antibiotic use in dairy farming, creating alignment between welfare improvement and antibiotic stewardship goals. The pain of clinical mastitis — hot, swollen quarters, fever, and systemic illness — is significant and sustained if untreated. Prevention programs that address housing design, milking hygiene, and genetic selection reduce incidence; when mastitis does occur, prompt diagnosis and appropriate pain relief are welfare imperatives. The transition from blanket to selective dry cow therapy represents progress toward reducing unnecessary antibiotic use while maintaining animal health. Farms that invest in prevention infrastructure and training show both better welfare outcomes and better economic returns through reduced treatment costs and culling.