Mastitis Prevention in Dairy Animals
5 min read· Vetrax Livestock Team
Mastitis is the costliest disease on a dairy farm. Here is the routine that prevents most cases.
Why it happens
Bacteria enter through the teat canal, usually in the 30 minutes after milking while the canal is still open.
Prevention routine
- Wash hands and udder with clean water, dry with a separate cloth per animal
- Discard the first few streams and check for clots
- Milk fully — leftover milk feeds bacteria
- Dip teats in antiseptic after milking
- Keep animals standing for 20–30 minutes; do not let them lie in wet bedding
When to call a vet
Hot, swollen quarter, watery or clotted milk, fever or a sudden drop in yield. Early treatment saves the quarter.