Considering all factors that contribute to mastitis risk, cow factors only account for 20 percent of cases. The other 80 percent of infections are caused by humans, and more specifically, how the farm is managed. About 100 organisms can cause infections in the udders of dairy cows.
When we have mastitis issues, we can’t really blame the cow. We have to look at ourselves first.” – Mike Zurakowski, DVM
Source: Hoard’s Dairyman, January 10, 2021. Link. For contagious pathogens, the udder is their main breeding ground. Environmental mastitis pathogen risk factors that cause infections include milking equipment, milking routines, the dairy barn environment, cow cleanliness, and teat end condition. Farmers have more control over some of these areas than others.