Summer mastitis is a severe bacterial infection of the non-lactating udder causing intense suffering and often permanent udder damage, with prevention through fly control and teat sealing.
Summer mastitis causes acute, severe suffering - affected cows show obvious distress, lameness from udder pain, systemic illness with fever, and without prompt treatment, progress to quarter loss and life-threatening sepsis. The condition is preventable through relatively simple interventions - internal teat sealants at dry-off, pour-on fly control, and daily observation of dry cows and in-calf heifers during fly season. Operations that do not implement these preventive measures allow entirely avoidable suffering, particularly given how painful and serious this condition is.