Mastitis in Dairy Cows: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent It
1. What is Mastitis?
Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, typically caused by bacterial infection. It is one of the most common and costly diseases in dairy farming, impacting milk yield, milk quality, and animal welfare.
2. Identification of Mastitis
A. Clinical Mastitis (Visible Signs)
Changes in Milk: Clots, flakes, watery or discolored (yellow, pink) milk.
Udder Changes: Swelling, redness, heat, hardness, or pain in the udder.
Systemic Signs (in severe cases): Fever, lethargy, reduced appetite, dehydration.
B. Subclinical Mastitis (No Visible Signs)
Detected through:
Somatic Cell Count (SCC): Individual cow SCC >200,000 cells/mL indicates infection.
California Mastitis Test (CMT): A quick, low-cost paddle test to detect elevated SCC.
Electrical Conductivity: Higher conductivity due to increased ions from inflammation.
Bacterial Culture: Identifies specific pathogens.
Key Pathogens:
Contagious: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae (spread cow-to-cow).
Environmental: E. coli, Klebsiella, Streptococcus uberis (from bedding/manure).
3. Treatment of Mastitis
A. Immediate Actions
Isolate the affected cow if possible.
Milk out the infected quarter frequently to remove bacteria and toxins.
Apply cold packs to reduce swelling in acute cases.
B. Antibiotic Therapy
Use under veterinary guidance.
Intramammary antibiotics (tube treatments) are common.
Systemic antibiotics for severe/systemic cases.
Follow withdrawal periods for milk and meat.
C. Supportive Care
Anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., NSAIDs) to reduce pain and fever.
Fluid therapy for dehydrated cows.
Ensure good nutrition and comfort.
D. Record Keeping
Log treatments, affected quarters, pathogens (if cultured), and outcomes.
4. Prevention of Mastitis
A. Milking Management
Pre-milking hygiene: Clean, dry teats; use pre-dip; wipe with single-use towels.
Machine maintenance: Check vacuum levels, pulsation, and liners regularly.
Post-milking teat disinfection: Apply effective teat dip immediately after milking.
Milking order: Milk fresh cows first, then healthy cows, then infected cows last.
B. Environmental Management
Clean, dry bedding: Change regularly; use sand or recycled dry manure.
Avoid overcrowding and ensure adequate resting space.
Keep alleys and walkways clean to reduce contamination.
C. Cow Health & Nutrition
Dry cow management: Use dry cow therapy selectively; provide clean dry-cow environment.
Boost immunity with balanced nutrition (vitamins E & Selenium, zinc).
Body condition scoring: Avoid over-conditioning at drying off and calving.
D. Monitoring & Biosecurity
Regular SCC testing (individual and bulk tank).
Culture milk samples from new infections to identify pathogens.
Quarantine and test new arrivals before introducing to the herd.
Cull chronic, non-responding cows to reduce infection reservoir.
5. Economic & Welfare Impact
Losses from reduced yield, discarded milk, treatment costs, and premature culling.
Welfare concern: Pain and discomfort for the cow.
Public health: Risk of antibiotic residues and potential pathogen transmission (rare).
6. When to Call a Veterinarian
Severe/systemic mastitis.
No improvement after 2–3 days of treatment.
High herd-level SCC or outbreak situation.
To develop a herd-specific mastitis control plan.
Summary: Key Takeaways
Detect early using CMT, SCC, and visual checks.
Treat appropriately with vet guidance and follow withdrawal periods.
Prevent through excellent milking routines, clean environment, and cow comfort.
Monitor regularly and adjust management based on data.
Implementing a consistent mastitis control plan (like the National Mastitis Council’s 5-Point Plan) can drastically reduce incidence and improve herd productivity and welfare.
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