Contagious Mastitis Pathogens: Welfare Control Science

Key Welfare Facts

Contagious mastitis is spread from infected to uninfected cows during milking, perpetuating within the herd.
Staphylococcus aureus causes chronic mastitis with poor treatment response and persistent welfare compromise.
Streptococcus agalactiae can be eradicated from herds through systematic testing and treatment programmes.
Milking machine hygiene, teat dipping, and wearing gloves are the primary tools for controlling cow-to-cow spread.
Culling chronically infected cows that fail treatment removes the reservoir and improves herd welfare.
Culture-guided therapy ensures appropriate antibiotic selection rather than broad-spectrum approaches.

Welfare Assessment

Contagious mastitis control requires a systematic approach targeting the source of infection. Implementing milking hygiene protocols, culture-guided treatment, and strategic culling of chronic cases is the most welfare-effective approach to breaking the contagion cycle.

What You Can Do

Implement pre and post-milking teat disinfection protocols to reduce cow-to-cow transmission
Culture milk from high SCC cows to identify contagious pathogens requiring targeted management
Consider strategic culling of chronically Staphylococcus aureus infected cows that fail treatment
Maintain milking machine hygiene and disinfect cluster liners between cows to prevent spread