Farm Animals

Cattle Mastitis Prevention and Pain Management

The welfare importance of effective mastitis prevention and pain treatment in dairy cattle, the most common and costly dairy disease.

Key Facts

Mastitis affects around 30-40% of dairy cows annually in intensive systems
The condition causes severe pain including fever, swollen udder, and systemic illness
Anti-inflammatory drugs significantly reduce pain and speed recovery when used
Dry cow therapy and teat sealants can prevent a substantial proportion of mastitis cases
Blanket dry cow antibiotic therapy is being replaced by selective treatment programs

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis causes significant suffering that is often inadequately treated. Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alongside antibiotics is a welfare improvement with strong evidence, yet is not universal practice. Pain management in mastitis should be routine.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory NSAID use in dairy mastitis treatment protocols
Support selective dry cow therapy that reduces antibiotic exposure while maintaining welfare
Choose dairy products from farms with demonstrated low mastitis incidence