Mastitis in Dairy Cows: Understanding Risk Periods and Herd Health Support

Mastitis in Dairy Cows: Quick Answer

Mastitis remains a major animal health challenge for dairy farms, affecting milk quality, somatic cell counts (SCC), production, treatment costs, and cow longevity and farm profitability. While mastitis can occur at any time of year, New Zealand and Australian dairy systems typically face increased mastitis risk around calving, early lactation, and drying-off. Managing mastitis risk relies on good cow health, effective dry cow management, milking hygiene, early detection, and ongoing monitoring.

Key Highlights (Quick Read)

• Mastitis is a leading cause of elevated SCC and milk quality challenges.
• Spring-calving cows can face increased risk due to calving stress and environmental conditions.
• The first few weeks after drying off are important for preventing new infections, so check cows regularly after dry-off.
• Good milking routines and well-maintained equipment remain essential.
• Genetic selection for lower SCC can help improve long-term herd resilience.
• Identifying repeat offenders and culling such cows can reduce herd-level risk.
• Supporting cows through periods of immune stress may help maintain udder health.
• DairyNZ and Dairy Australia provide excellent mastitis management resources.

What Causes Mastitis in Dairy Cows?

Most dairy farmers know mastitis isn't just an animal health issue - it has a direct impact on productivity, milk quality, and profitability.

Mastitis can contribute to:

• Elevated somatic cell counts (SCC)
• Reduced milk production
• Milk withholding periods due to antibiotic use
• Additional labour and management requirements
• Increased culling rates
• Financial penalties from your dairy company

For many farms, the biggest impact comes from subclinical mastitis, where cows may appear healthy while SCC rises and milk quality is affected.

Mastitis occurs when bacteria enter the udder through the teat canal and trigger an inflammatory response. The bacteria involved and how they spread vary depending on the farm system, environment, season, and stage of lactation.

Environmental mastitis pathogens

These bacteria are picked up from the cow's surroundings, including mud, manure, bedding, laneways, and calving environments. Environmental mastitis risk often increases when conditions favour bacterial growth.

Contagious mastitis pathogens

These are generally spread from infected cows to other cows, particularly during milking. Reducing transmission relies on good milking routines, teat hygiene, equipment maintenance, and identification of infected animals.

There is rarely a single fix for mastitis. Reducing risk across the herd usually comes from improvements across multiple areas, including cow health, environmental management, milking routines, and dry cow decisions and genetic selection.

When Are Dairy Cows Most at Risk of Mastitis?

While mastitis can occur at any stage of lactation, there are several periods when infection risk increases.

 Spring Mastitis in Dairy Cows: The Role of Strep uberis

For many seasonal dairy systems, spring is when the risk of mastitis increases.

Freshly calved cows are adjusting to lactation while facing increased immune demand. Mastitis after calving is a common focus area because several risk factors often occur together:

• Changes in immune function
• High production demands
• Environmental bacteria exposure
• Wet or muddy paddock conditions
• Exposure to cold increases the level of stress

A commonly discussed environmental pathogen during this period is Streptococcus uberis, associated with bacteria found in bedding, soil, pasture, and organic matter. While not every spring mastitis case is caused by Strep uberis, it highlights why clean calving environments, fresh cow monitoring, grazing management and early identification remain important.

What Is a High Somatic Cell Count in Dairy Cows?

Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is a key indicator of udder health and milk quality. Somatic cells are naturally present in milk and form part of the cow's immune response. When inflammation occurs in the udder, SCC can increase.

An elevated SCC can occur without visible signs of mastitis, making SCC monitoring valuable for identifying subclinical mastitis and managing herd-level udder health.

Monitoring SCC trends can help farmers:

• Detect subclinical mastitis
• Identify problem cows or repeat offenders
• Investigate mastitis risk
• Assess management outcomes
• Reduce milk quality penalties

Both individual cow SCC and bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) provide useful information. Individual testing helps identify cows contributing to elevated counts, while BMSCC provides a wider picture of herd trends.

Managing high SCC usually requires identifying the underlying cause rather than focusing on the number alone.

How to Reduce High Somatic Cell Count in Dairy Cows

Reducing SCC usually requires a whole-herd approach.

Common focus areas include:

Cow health

• Maintaining body condition
• Managing transition periods carefully
• Supporting normal immune function around calving and drying off

Milking management

• Consistent milking routines
• Teat hygiene
• Monitoring teat condition
• Maintaining milking equipment

Herd management

• Reviewing SCC trends
• Recording repeat cases
• Identifying chronic cows
• Making informed breeding or culling decisions
• Pasture management

Dry Cow Therapy and Mastitis Prevention During Dry-Off

What happens at drying-off can have a significant impact on udder health heading into the next lactation. Cows are particularly vulnerable to new infections, especially shortly after drying off and again close to calving.

Dry cow management focuses on:

• Managing existing infections from the previous lactation
• Reducing new infection risk during the dry period

Depending on herd requirements, farmers may use:

• Dry Cow Therapy (DCT)
• Internal teat sealants
• Strategic cow selection and culling
• Genetic sire selection
• Clean dry cow environments
• SCC and mastitis records

Many farms now take a targeted approach using herd history, breeding selection, SCC records, clinical mastitis cases, and veterinary advice. A strong dry cow strategy helps prepare cows heading into calving, when immune demands increase and mastitis risk is often higher.

Genetics and Long-Term Mastitis Management

Modern breeding programmes increasingly include SCC and mastitis-related traits. While genetics will not remove mastitis risk completely, selecting sires with favourable udder health traits can support long-term herd improvement.

Many farmers factor SCC performance, repeat mastitis cases, and udder health history into breeding and culling decisions.

Hippo Health farming advisor Trevor Wadams says "There’s rarely one single answer when it comes to mastitis. Good prevention comes back to the whole system — cow health, dry cow management, shed hygiene, milking practices, pre-calf grazing management and knowing which cows need closer attention."

Supporting Cow Immunity Before Calving and Drying Off

Calving, early lactation, and drying-off are key transition periods when cows experience significant changes. Supporting normal immune function and overall cow health during these times can form an important part of a wider mastitis management programme.

Good mastitis management still starts with the basics: maintaining body condition, reducing unnecessary stress, managing environmental challenges, maintaining good milking practices, and monitoring cows closely through higher-risk periods.

Alongside these management practices, many farmers also look for ways to support normal immune function and udder health before and during periods of challenge.

Can Natural Mastitis Support Be Used Alongside Existing Mastitis Management Programmes?

Hippo Health's mastitis support range has been developed to provide farmers with natural options that can be used alongside existing herd management programmes.

The range includes three formulations designed for different stages of mastitis management: preparation before milking, support when mastitis is identified, and support for cows experiencing high or fluctuating somatic cell counts (SCC).

All three remedies have no withholding period, making them practical for use within dairy farming systems.

MastiPrev: Supporting Cows Before High-Risk Mastitis Periods

MastiPrev is formulated to support the immune system in preparation for milking and periods where mastitis risk is increased.

It is designed for proactive herd support before known risk periods. Ideally, begin dosing water troughs four weeks before milking begins. See the product page for specific dosing instructions, or read our FAQs for general guidance on how to trough dose livestock.

Withholding period: Nil

MastiACT: Immune Support When Mastitis Is Identified

MastiACT is formulated to support the immune system when mastitis has been identified.

It is designed for individual cows showing signs of mastitis and is safe to use alongside vet-prescribed treatments. For dairy cows, apply 3-4 sprays onto a mucous membrane such as the vulva or nose while cows are in the milking shed.

Dose three times each milking:

• When the cow comes into the shed
• When cups go on
• When cups come off

Reduce dosing as improvement is seen.

For other farm animals, apply four sprays onto feed 2–3 times daily if direct dosing onto a mucous membrane is not practical. Reduce dosing as improvement is seen.

Withholding period: Nil

Masti Plus: Support for High or Fluctuating Somatic Cell Counts

Masti Plus is formulated for use when somatic cell counts are high or fluctuating, and is safe to use alongside vet-prescribed treatments.

It is designed for herd-level support where SCC is a concern and may also be used to complete support following an acute mastitis case. Masti Plus is administered through water troughs - see the product page for specific dosing instructions, or read our FAQs for general guidance on how to trough dose livestock.

Withholding period: Nil

Final thoughts

Whether you're preparing cows for the season ahead, managing mastitis risk within the herd, or looking for additional support when SCC levels fluctuate, our mastitis range has been developed to provide practical options that fit alongside your existing mastitis management programme.

Explore our full range of innovative natural remedies for farming or head to our advice section to read more farming-related blog posts. Or get in touch with our farming specialist to find out more about how Hippo Health remedies can support cow health and milk production.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mastitis and High SCC in Dairy Cows

What causes mastitis in dairy cows?

Mastitis occurs when bacteria enter the udder through the teat canal. Environmental conditions, contagious pathogens, cow health, and management practices can all influence risk.

What are the signs of mastitis in cows?

Clinical mastitis may cause changes in milk appearance and swelling, heat, or changes in the affected quarter. Subclinical mastitis is often detected through SCC monitoring.

What is the best treatment for mastitis in cows?

The right mastitis treatment depends on the type of infection, severity, farm protocols, and veterinary advice. SCC patterns and herd history help guide management decisions.

Can mastitis be prevented in dairy cows?

Mastitis risk can be reduced through good herd management, including milking hygiene, dry cow management, SCC monitoring, and maintaining cow health.

How do I reduce high SCC in my dairy herd?

Reducing SCC requires identifying the underlying cause and reviewing areas such as milking practices, dry cow management, pre-calf feeding management, individual cow history, and overall herd health.

Can a cow have high SCC without signs of mastitis?

Yes. Many cows with subclinical mastitis appear healthy while still contributing to elevated herd SCC.

Why is mastitis common around calving?

Around calving, cows experience increased metabolic and immune demands. Combined with environmental bacteria exposure, this can increase mastitis risk.

Where can New Zealand and Australian farmers find reliable mastitis information?

DairyNZ:
https://www.dairynz.co.nz/animal/mastitis/

Dairy Australia:
https://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/milking/milk-quality-and-mastitis