Mastitis is the most costly and painful disease in dairy farming. Preventing udder infections is both an ethical welfare priority and an economic imperative for farmers.
Mastitis causes genuine and significant pain. Research using pain-specific behavioural indicators shows cows with clinical mastitis have altered gait, reduced feed intake, and clear signs of discomfort. The pain of a badly infected udder persisting untreated for hours or days represents a serious welfare failure. Prompt identification and treatment, combined with proactive management to prevent infection, are the cornerstones of dairy cow welfare. The shift toward selective antibiotic use requires better individual cow monitoring but is welfare-positive when implemented well.