Mastitis is the most costly and welfare-significant disease in dairy cattle. Prevention through hygiene, teat health monitoring, and selective dry cow therapy reduces incidence and suffering.
Clinical mastitis is painful — affected quarters are inflamed, hot, and swollen, causing significant distress. Cows with acute mastitis show behavioural signs of pain: reduced feed intake, reduced movement, altered posture. Chronic subclinical infection causes ongoing low-grade discomfort and progressive udder damage. High incidence of mastitis in a herd indicates systemic failures in hygiene and management rather than inevitable disease. The welfare case for prevention investment — better bedding, teat dipping, appropriate milking routines, and early treatment — is clear. Reducing mastitis incidence through management rather than antibiotic dependency is both a welfare and public health priority.