Mastitis continues to steal dairy profits. This article provides information about mastitis research, management and the resulting economics. If dairymen are reading at this level, then veterinarians and sales representatives need to be familiar with it, as well.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, January 2016.
According to data and a cost estimation model from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) Dairy 2014 study*:
- Operations with at least one case of mastitis: 100%
- Total cows affected by mastitis: 24.1%
- Average cost of treating a single case of mastitis: $42.05**
- Outcomes of mastitis cases:
- 72.9% recovered
- 24.0% sold
- 3.1% died
*Data from U.S. dairy herds for the year 2013
**Included cost of fatalities; early culling, milk-yield loss; and costs for treatment, labor and replacement animals.