Cow health
Preventing mastitis
Mastitis is the most costly udder problem on small farms. Most of it can be prevented at milking time.
4 min read
This guide is general advice, not a diagnosis. If an animal seems sick, call your vet.
Know the signs
- Clots, flakes, blood or watery milk in the strip cup.
- A quarter that is swollen, hot, hard or painful.
- A sudden drop in milk from one cow.
- Some mastitis shows no signs at all. Your co-op or vet can test milk for it.
Prevent it every milking
- Clean, dry housing and bedding. Mud and dung carry the germs.
- Clean hands, one cloth per cow, and dry teats before milking.
- Milk out fully and gently.
- Dip teats after milking if your vet recommends a teat dip.
- Milk infected cows last.
If you suspect mastitis
- Call your vet early. Early treatment works better and costs less.
- Follow the full treatment, even when the milk looks normal again.
- Do not sell milk during the withdrawal period your vet gives you. Milk with drug residues is rejected and can harm people.
This guide is general advice, not a diagnosis. If an animal seems sick, call your vet.