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Economic Losses Resulting from Mastitis. A Review¹

Department of Dairy Science, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29631

ABSTRACT

Mastitis reduces the milk yield, changes milk composition, shortens the productive life of affected cows, and is very costly to the dairy farmer. Losses in total milk production range from 5.0 to 25.0%, with one extreme of 83.9%. In terms of milk losses per quarter per day, 0.76 to 5.86 lb, or 9.0 to 43.3%, have been observed. Decreases in the composition of milk have been recorded for fat, 0.1 to 0.45%; solids-not-fat, 0.1 to 0.57%; lactose, 0.1 to 0.77%; and total solids, 1.07%.

Total annual economic losses to dairymen in the United States attributable to mastitis have been estimated at $400 to $500 million, or $23 per cow. Other estimates obtained during various stages of a control program indicate annual losses per cow of $23.26 to $154.34 before, and averaging $28.09 to $82.00 after, the initiation of such a program. Control of this costly disease must be based on a continuing program of prevention and elimination of infection. Instituting and maintaining such a program can reduce losses from mastitis by 50% or more.

¹ Technical Contribution no. 857, South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station. Published by permission of the Director.