Mastitis Management in Dairy Cattle
Summary
Mastitis remains the most prevalent and costly disease affecting dairy herds worldwide, characterised by inflammation of the mammary gland most often linked to bacterial infection. Its impacts extend from decreased milk yield and altered composition to increased culling rates and antimicrobial resistance concerns. Effective management encompasses preventive hygiene practices, rapid diagnosis of both clinical and subclinical forms, and judicious therapeutic interventions. Key elements include routine monitoring of somatic cell counts to detect early infections, implementation of pre- and post-milking teat disinfection, maintenance of milking equipment, and strategic dry cow therapy. Genetic selection for enhanced immune responsiveness and the development of novel therapies—such as immunomodulators, probiotics and precision-delivery antimicrobials—are emerging as complementary approaches. Integrated herd-level strategies that combine on-farm biosecurity, data-driven decision-making and targeted treatment protocols are vital to sustain animal welfare, milk quality and farm profitability under increasing regulatory and public scrutiny.
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Mastitis Management in Dairy Cattle publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in mastitis management in dairy cattle across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Somatic Cell Count (SCC): A numerical measure of leukocytes in milk used to assess udder health and detect subclinical mastitis.
Subclinical Mastitis: Intramammary infection without overt signs, often identified by increased SCC rather than visible inflammation.
Dry Cow Therapy: Administration of long-acting antimicrobials or internal teat sealants to uninfected cows at drying-off to prevent new infections.
Machine Learning Models: Algorithmic systems that analyse complex sensor data—such as milk flow profiles—to predict disease states.
References
- Using milk flow profiles for subclinical mastitis detection. Smart Agricultural Technology (2024).
- Advances in therapeutic and managemental approaches of bovine mastitis: a comprehensive review. Veterinary Quarterly (2021).
- Bovine mastitis: risk factors, therapeutic strategies, and alternative treatments. Animal Bioscience (2020).
- Relationship of Somatic Cell Count and Mastitis: An Overview. Animal Bioscience (2011).
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