Mastitis can be a significant cost on dairy farms, making timely detection important. There are mastitis detection tools and technologies available in New Zealand that can support, but not replace, good mastitis management and farmer judgement.

Mastitis is one of the most common and costly animal health issues on dairy farms. Understanding the basics will help you protect cow health, maintain milk quality, and do your job confidently in the milking shed.

Mastitis generally falls into two categories: environmental and contagious. Good milking routine, teat spray and hygiene reduce contagious spread. Clean, well-managed sheds, dry bedding and managing cow traffic help minimise environmental exposure.

In this episode of Talking Dairy, we tackle the challenge of managing mastitis. Experts Mike Shallcrass and Jane Lacy-Hulbert offer practical tips on detecting and handling high SCC cows and strategies to prevent mastitis and improve milk quality.

Early detection of clinical mastitis is key to protecting milk quality and cow health. Check regularly for signs such as, heat, swelling, pain in the udder, and changes in the milk. Learn how to recognise the signs and take appropriate action.

The key to preventing lameness on farm is good record keeping, identifying risk factors and developing a lameness prevention plan.

If you’re experiencing issues with somatic cell count, have several clinical cases of mastitis, or persistent teat damage in your herd, professional help should be sought. Trained advisers are available in all regions to investigate and help.

The page provides ways to find a milk quality adviser, a qualified milking machine tester, or a vet specialising in mastitis investigations.

If you are looking to build your milk quality and mastitis management skills, check out these DairyNZ recommended training courses.

The SmartSAMM Mastitis Investigation Kit (the Kit) provides a resource that professional advisors can use to gather information during a full mastitis investigation.

This Calculator estimates the potential economic benefits of 'closing the gap' between your herd's actual performance and your target performance, for udder health and milk quality.