Milk Quality and Udder Health: Welfare Science Update

Key Welfare Facts

Somatic cell count in bulk milk is a welfare indicator reflecting mastitis prevalence across the lactating herd.
High individual cow SCC indicates chronic sub-clinical mastitis causing ongoing welfare compromise.
Culture-guided treatment prevents unnecessary antibiotic use while ensuring appropriate therapy for welfare.
Blanket dry cow therapy has given way to targeted selective dry cow therapy with welfare-positive implications.
Regular milking with appropriate machine function reduces teat orifice damage and mastitis risk significantly.
Cow comfort during milking including time in milking parlour and lying time post-milking affects udder health welfare.

Welfare Assessment

Milk quality is a powerful indicator of udder health welfare across the dairy herd. Using SCC data to identify and treat chronic sub-clinical mastitis cases, implementing targeted dry cow therapy, and monitoring milking equipment maintains udder welfare standards effectively.

What You Can Do

Monitor individual cow SCC data monthly to identify chronically infected cows requiring treatment
Implement targeted selective dry cow therapy based on culture results rather than blanket treatment
Regular milking machine testing and maintenance prevents teat damage that predisposes to mastitis
Choose dairy products from farms with independently audited somatic cell count and udder health standards