Farm Animals

Dairy Cow Dry Cow Therapy Welfare

Dry cow therapy using antibiotics at the end of lactation prevents mastitis but raises antibiotic stewardship concerns, with selective dry cow therapy emerging as a welfare-positive approach.

Key Facts

Dry cow therapy has traditionally used blanket antibiotic treatment at drying off
Selective dry cow therapy treats only cows with evidence of existing infection
Selective approaches maintain welfare outcomes while reducing antibiotic use
Internal teat sealants without antibiotics protect uninfected quarters through the dry period
Transition from blanket to selective therapy requires robust mastitis monitoring systems

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis causes significant pain and is the leading cause of dairy cow welfare problems. Smart dry cow therapy reduces antibiotic use without compromising mastitis prevention.

What You Can Do

Support farms transitioning to selective dry cow therapy protocols
Advocate for strong antibiotic stewardship in dairy farming
Use mastitis monitoring data to identify cows requiring antibiotic dry cow treatment
Work with your vet to implement a selective dry cow therapy protocol