Mastitis is the most economically costly and welfare-significant disease in dairy cows, with integrated prevention programmes dramatically reducing incidence and suffering.
Mastitis causes acute pain in affected quarters with visible swelling, heat, and pain on palpation. Severe systemic mastitis causes fever, weakness, and can be fatal within 24-48 hours without aggressive treatment. Subclinical mastitis causes chronic low-grade inflammation and pain without visible signs. Welfare-focused mastitis management combines post-milking teat disinfection, milking machine maintenance, cow environment hygiene, and selective dry cow therapy to prevent new infections. Early clinical mastitis detection and treatment prevents progression to more severe welfare-compromising disease.