Mastitis is a leading cause of reduced milk production in dairy herds, making it a costly health issue within the industry. The Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, TVMDL, can assist dairy owners in testing for mastitis that can help lead treatment and prevention.
Recognizing and addressing mastitis at early stages can mean the difference between steady milk output and significant economic loss.
A few ways dairy owners can prevent and manage mastitis include:
- Practicing good animal hygiene and maintaining a clean facility
- Recognizing early signs of infection
- Monitoring somatic cell counts
Practice proper hygiene
Proper hygiene is an essential preventative measure for avoiding mastitis. Unsanitary milking equipment and poor animal cleanliness create favorable conditions for harmful bacterial species.
Mastitis is an inflammatory response triggered by a bacterial infection in the mammary glands. Common bacteria responsible for mastitis include Escherichia coli, E.–coli, and staphylococcus aureus.
Milking machinery should be cleaned properly after each milking session. Additionally, the udder and teats of each cow should be sanitized before and after milking. Best practices include the use of disposable teat wipes on each individual cow and ensuring dryness before milking. Upon exiting the milking parlor, teat disinfection is critical to kill any lingering bacteria.
Recognize clinical signs
It’s recommended dairy workers contact their veterinarian immediately upon suspicion of mastitis. Quick intervention can reduce the severity of infection, prevent long-term damage to the mammary glands and help cows return to peak production faster.
A cow infected with mastitis may show general signs of inflammation on the udder (i.e., swelling, redness, firm and warm to the touch). Cattle usually experience pain and sensitivity in their inguinal region. Changes in the appearance of milk are also indications.
Mastitis can be detected at an early stage, even before serious clinical signs appear, with the use of a California Mastitis Test, CMT. The quick, on-site CMT is best described as a screening tool used to help dairy workers decide whether a cow needs ongoing monitoring for mastitis.
Monitor somatic cell counts
Identifying mastitis at its early stages can be difficult. In cases of subclinical mastitis, cattle may not show external signs of infection.
In addition to the CMT, veterinarians may also suggest the upkeep of records of somatic cell counts, SCC, in their herds. An increase in SCC could be an indicator of bacterial infection, so tracking these trends enables early detection and risk assessment of mastitis within the herd.
Diagnosis
Monitoring is important because, if mastitis is present, early attention may prompt the beginning of the diagnostic process, which informs the treatment regimen.
TVMDL offers valuable diagnostic services to help veterinarians determine the best course of treatment for patients with mastitis. Depending on whether mastitis appears to be subclinical, no visible signs, or clinical, signs present, diagnostic testing options will vary.
Bacterial culture
The primary test for diagnosing clinical mastitis at TVMDL is bacterial culture.
Upon arrival, the samples are streaked onto separate media which promote the growth of different bacterial species. The samples are then incubated in two conditions, aerobic and anaerobic, facilitating growth of the bacteria on the plate.
When growth is visible, the lab identifies which bacterial species are present.
Antibiotic sensitivity testing
If bacteria are detected following culture, TVMDL can also perform antibiotic sensitivity testing to guide the development of an effective treatment plan for mastitis. This testing identifies which antibiotics the isolated bacteria are sensitive or resistant to, enabling the practitioner to select the most appropriate therapeutic agent.
Don’t Wait — Call the Vet
Preventing mastitis starts with good hygiene and regular monitoring of dairy herds. Early detection depends on owners noticing signs of illness and acting fast.
The sooner a veterinarian is called, the sooner testing and treatment can begin, improving the chances of a smooth recovery. When in doubt, livestock owners should not wait — early veterinary involvement is key to a successful outcome.
