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Bovine Mastitis: Introductory Remarks¹

National Animal Disease Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 70 Ames, IA 50010

ABSTRACT

Bovine mastitis is a disease complex that results from the interaction of the cow, the environment (including the milking machine), and the microorganisms (1). At least one-half of our dairy cows have some form of mastitis.

Many of the costs of mastitis are unrecognized (2). A single infected gland results in a loss of 770 kg of milk per year. An estimate of the cost of mastitis ranges from $90 to $250 per cow per year.

Major losses from mastitis (2) include decrease in milk production, increase in replacement heifer costs, loss of antibiotic-contaminated milk, drug and veterinary costs, extra labor, and loss of genetic material from the herd. The two major, immediate costs are loss of milk and higher cost of replacements.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, microorganisms are deposited on the teat end and in the distal end of the teat canal. The many vectors for these organisms include the environment (soil, bedding), milking equipment (mainly the inside of the rubber parts), udder cloths, milkers' hands, and wash water.

¹ No endorsements are implied herein.