Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Mastitis Prevention Advanced Welfare

Mastitis prevention through teat dipping, dry cow therapy, and milking machine maintenance remains the cornerstone of udder health management.

Key Facts

Post-milking teat dipping reduces new infection rate by 50-90%
Selective dry cow therapy preserves antibiotic stewardship while protecting welfare
Milking machine function affects teat end condition and infection risk
Teat end scoring identifies cows at highest infection risk
AHDB Mastitis Control Plan provides a systematic prevention framework

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis causes intense udder pain, systemic illness in severe cases, and long-term production consequences. Each case represents preventable suffering that reflects management failures in milking hygiene, dry cow management, or milking equipment. Systematic prevention programs that address all three areas simultaneously achieve the greatest welfare and economic benefits.

What You Can Do

Implement systematic post-milking teat dipping on all dairy farms
Review milking machine function annually with a qualified engineer
Apply selective dry cow therapy based on individual cow somatic cell count history
Work with your vet on a mastitis control plan based on culture and sensitivity