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.

Automated mastitis detection (AMD) systems are technology tools used on dairy farms to identify signs of mastitis in cows by monitoring milk for specific indicators.

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.

Mastitis affects udder health and milk quality, impacting farm productivity. To manage it, use SmartSAMM, which offers guidance on reducing mastitis and somatic cell counts.

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.