Cattle Mastitis Prevention: Milking Hygiene and Dry Cow Therapy

Mastitis is the most economically costly and welfare-significant disease in dairy cattle; prevention is far preferable to treatment.

Key Facts

Mastitis affects approximately 30-40 cases per 100 cows per year in UK dairy herds.
Environmental mastitis (E. coli, Streptococcus uberis) predominates in housed cattle; contagious (Staph. aureus) in milking parlour.
Clinical mastitis causes severe udder pain, fever, and systemic illness; chronic low-grade cases cause persistent discomfort.
Selective dry cow therapy (treating only cows with evidence of infection) reduces antibiotic use compared to blanket treatment.
Post-milking teat dipping with effective iodine-based or chlorhexidine disinfectants reduces new infection rates by 50%.
Somatic cell count monitoring identifies subclinical mastitis, allowing early targeted intervention.

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis causes significant pain — udder inflammation, fever, and systemic illness. Cows with severe coliform mastitis are acutely ill and require emergency veterinary treatment. Welfare-conscious prevention combines good milking hygiene, appropriate dry cow management, regular equipment maintenance, and comfortable, clean housing. Farms should target a bulk milk somatic cell count below 200,000 cells/ml as a welfare and quality indicator.

What You Can Do

Implement post-milking teat dipping with a proven disinfectant as standard parlour practice.
Monitor bulk milk somatic cell count monthly and investigate elevations above 200,000 cells/ml.
Discuss selective dry cow therapy with your vet to reduce antibiotic use while maintaining udder health.
Maintain clean, well-bedded, uncrowded housing — environmental conditions are the primary risk factor for E. coli mastitis.