Farm Animals

Farmed Cattle Mastitis Welfare Economics

The economic costs of mastitis align with its welfare costs, making prevention both commercially rational and welfare-positive.

Key Facts

Each mastitis case costs approximately 200-300 pounds in total
Farms with low mastitis rates have costs 3-4 times lower than high-rate farms
Prevention ROI through teat dipping and cubicle hygiene is strongly positive
Somatic cell count is the standard proxy measure for mastitis welfare
High SCC milk cannot be sold creating commercial pressure for reduction

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis prevention is one of the clearest examples of welfare and commercial interest alignment. The economic case for prevention through hygiene and dry cow management is compelling and the welfare case equally strong.

What You Can Do

Support dairy welfare standards with somatic cell count targets
Advocate for mastitis rate transparency in dairy supply chains
Choose dairy from farms with documented low mastitis rates