Mastitis in cows is an inflammatory response of the udder tissue in the mammary gland caused due to physical trauma or microorganism infections. It is a potentially fatal mammary gland infection that is most common in dairy cattle worldwide and is known to cause the greatest loss to the dairy industry. The clear sign of mastitis is inflammation of the udder that turns into a red and hard mass. The swollen mammary gland is hot and touching it causes pain and discomfort to the animal. Animals do not allow touching of the udder even kicking to prevent milking. If milked, the milk is usually tainted with blood clots, foul-smelling brown discharge, and milk clots. Infected cattle are severely dehydrated and suffer from weight loss. In cases of severe infection, there is formation of pus in the infected udder. Mastitis can degenerate to Toxaemia or Bacteraemia and even cause death as a result of acute infection.

The predominant cause of mastitis is a bacterial infection of the teat canal. It can also be caused by physical, chemical, or heat damage to the udder tissue. There is a large cohort of microorganism species that are known to cause mastitis, ranging from virus, mycoplasma, fungus, and bacteria. Mastitis due to various mycotic organisms (yeasts) has appeared in dairy herds, especially after the use of penicillin in association with prolonged repetitive use of antimicrobial infusions in individual cows.

Mastitis reduces milk production and milk quality. Apart from antibiotics, dairy farmers have few tools to treat the common and costly udder infection mastitis. The control and treatment of mastitis is one of the largest costs to the dairy industry and is also a significant factor in dairy cow welfare. The infected and non-responsive quarter should be dried up, permanently. Calves should be prevented from suckling on the infected teat. A certified veterinary doctor must be consulted, and a course of antibiotic treatment must commence immediately. Milking routine hygiene, housing and bedding management, and the culling of chronically infected cows can all help to limit the disease’s extent, as can an effective dairy cow diet.