Mastitis Treatment Welfare in Dairy Cows

Clinical mastitis is one of the most painful and common diseases in dairy cows. Prompt detection, effective treatment, and preventive management are central welfare priorities.

Key Facts

Clinical mastitis affects 20-40 cases per 100 cows per year in UK dairy herds
Severe coliform mastitis causes systemic toxaemia and can be fatal within 24 hours
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain relief is now considered standard of care
Antibiotic treatment alone without NSAID analgesia leaves significant pain unaddressed
Selective dry cow therapy based on individual cow records reduces unnecessary antibiotic use

Welfare Considerations

Mastitis causes acute and severe pain from mammary inflammation. Cows with clinical mastitis show reduced feed intake, reduced lying time, and altered gait as they avoid weight-bearing on the painful quarter. NSAID analgesia administered at first detection substantially reduces the welfare impact of treatment episodes. Prompt identification through on-farm cell count monitoring and daily milking observation enables early intervention before subclinical cases progress to severe clinical disease.

What You Can Do

Support dairy standards that mandate NSAID treatment alongside antibiotics for mastitis
Choose dairy products from farms with documented mastitis incidence monitoring
Advocate for pain management standards in mastitis treatment codes of practice
Donate to research on mastitis prevention strategies that reduce incidence and welfare impact