Dairy Cow Mastitis Prevention Strategies

Mastitis is the most economically costly and one of the most painful diseases in dairy cows. Prevention strategies based on welfare science significantly reduce its occurrence.

Key Facts

Mastitis affects an estimated 25% of dairy cows in the UK annually
Clinical mastitis causes local and systemic pain, fever, and significant distress
The transition from blanket dry cow antibiotic therapy to selective treatment is a major welfare and antibiotic stewardship advance
Teat dipping, clean housing, and good milking hygiene are foundational prevention strategies
Somatic cell count monitoring enables early detection of subclinical mastitis before it becomes clinical

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis is painful, and its pain is often undertreated in dairy systems. Studies show that NSAIDs improve both welfare outcomes and milk production in mastitic cows — demonstrating the alignment of welfare and productivity here. Prevention, however, is far better than treatment. Housing design that keeps cows clean and dry, careful milking hygiene, regular teat dip usage, and regular SCC monitoring together form an evidence-based prevention program that benefits both cows and farm economics.

What You Can Do

Support dairy welfare certifications that include mastitis rate and treatment protocols as metrics
Choose dairy products from farms with low somatic cell count targets as a proxy for udder health
Advocate for mandatory pain relief provision with all mastitis treatments
Farmers: implement regular SCC testing and respond to elevated counts promptly
Support transition to selective dry cow therapy to reduce antibiotic use without compromising welfare