Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Dry Cow Therapy and Welfare Transition

The transition from blanket dry cow antibiotic therapy to selective dry cow treatment is a major animal welfare and antimicrobial stewardship challenge in dairy farming.

Key Facts

Blanket dry cow therapy (BDCT) has traditionally used antibiotics for all cows at drying off
Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) treats only cows with infected quarters
SDCT reduces total antibiotic use in dairy by up to 50% without compromising udder health
Cows with clinical mastitis or high somatic cell counts still need BDCT under SDCT protocols
Teat sealants without antibiotics protect dry quarters in low infection risk cows

Welfare Considerations

The dry period is a critical time for udder health in dairy cows. The transition to selective dry cow therapy requires good herd data, accurate somatic cell count records and farmer confidence. When done well, it maintains cow welfare by treating infections that need treatment while reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure.

What You Can Do

Support dairy farmers transitioning to evidence-based selective dry cow therapy
Choose dairy products from farms participating in responsible antibiotic use programmes
Advocate for SDCT protocols in national dairy industry antibiotic stewardship guidelines