Mastitis
Udder inflammation in dairy cows
Disease
Learn in detail about Udder inflammation in dairy cows — causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment.
3 readers 2 min read
Shobar Khamar
Cause
Inflammation of the udder caused by bacteria (Streptococci, Staphylococci), Mycoplasma, and fungi. Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli and Corynebacterium may also be involved as contributing factors.
Symptoms
- Udder becomes reddish and swollen
- Cow keeps hind legs spread apart
- Udder feels hot to touch; cow does not allow touching
- Body temperature rises; cow cannot walk due to pain
- Milk becomes yellowish like pus; later blood-mixed and foul-smelling
- In advanced stage, teats become hardened and milk stops
- Eventually teats rot, become cold, and fall off
- In severe cases, animal may die
Treatment
- The following medicines may be administered under the advice of a veterinary doctor.
Prevention
- Thoroughly clean milker's hands and cow's udder with disinfectant before milking
- Keep milking cows in a clean and dry place
- Ensure the udder is not injured
- If the udder is hot, swollen, and painful — apply cold water or ice first
- If milk accumulates in udder — use Milk Siphon instrument to remove it
- Remove cows with 3–5 udder inflammation episodes from the farm
- Feed cows immediately after milking (teat canal stays open for ~2 hours post-milking — high infection risk)
- When udder dries up — apply camphor mixed with mustard oil on the teats
Medicines
- Broad Spectrum Antibiotic Injection
- Long Acting Amoxycillin Injection
- Antihistaminic Injection
- Tofamenic Injection
