Mastitis Prevention in Dairy Cows
Mastitis — infection and inflammation of the udder — is the most common and costly disease in dairy farming, and one of the most significant sources of dairy cow suffering. Effective prevention programmes dramatically reduce both the incidence and welfare impact of this painful condition.
The Five-Point Plan
The AHDB Five-Point Mastitis Control Plan provides a comprehensive evidence-based framework: (1) Teat dipping post-milking with effective disinfectant; (2) Antibiotic dry cow therapy for all or targeted cows at drying off; (3) Culling of chronic mastitis cows; (4) Good milking technique and properly functioning milking machine; (5) Prompt identification and treatment of clinical cases.
This plan, when implemented systematically, can achieve significant reductions in new infection rates and somatic cell count across herds. Each element addresses specific infection pathways and has good evidence of effectiveness.
Environmental Mastitis Prevention
Environmental mastitis (caused by E. coli, Klebsiella, environmental streptococci) is introduced from the cow's environment rather than spread cow-to-cow. Prevention focuses on: dry, clean cubicles with adequate bedding changed frequently; clean passageways without pooling slurry; teat condition management that maintains the teat canal's protective function; pre-milking preparation that removes contamination before milking.
Dry Period Management
The dry period (when the cow is not being milked, between lactations) is critical for udder health in the next lactation. Dry cow antibiotic therapy or teat sealants protect the udder from infection during the vulnerable early dry period. Nutrition management during the dry period affects transition cow health and subsequent mastitis risk. Over-conditioning at drying off (excessively fat cows) increases transition cow metabolic disease and secondary mastitis risk.
Welfare Monitoring Through Mastitis Metrics
Mastitis rate (clinical cases per 100 cows per year — target below 30-40), new infection rate at drying off, cure rate with treatment, and repeat infection rate all provide welfare-relevant monitoring data. Farms with high mastitis rates are experiencing significant preventable suffering that systematic monitoring and management can address.