What Is Mastitis?
Mastitis is inflammation of the udder caused by bacterial infection. It is the number one economic disease in dairy farming worldwide — and Pakistan is no exception.
| Type | Signs | SCC Level | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acute Clinical | Hot, swollen quarter; flakes/clots in milk; cow off-feed, fever | >1,000,000 | Immediate IMM antibiotic + NSAID, systemic if fever >40°C |
| Subacute Clinical | Abnormal milk; mild swelling; cow eating normally | 500,000–1,000,000 | IMM antibiotic course (3–5 infusions) |
| Chronic Clinical | Recurrent flares; fibrosis; reduced quarter yield | Variable — often high | Treat or cull — 3+ cases/lactation = cull |
| Subclinical | No visible signs; elevated SCC only | 200,000–1,000,000 | Dry-cow therapy; monitor; manage milking hygiene |
The Five-Point Mastitis Control Plan
Internationally proven. Every dairy farm in Pakistan should implement all five points — not just one or two.
Post-Milking Teat Dipping
Dip all 4 teats in 0.5% iodine post-dip within 30 seconds of unit removal. Kills bacteria before teat canal closes. Non-negotiable — this single step reduces new infection rate by 50%.
Dry-Cow Therapy
Infuse all 4 quarters with long-acting IMM antibiotic at dry-off. Add teat sealant for cows in high-risk housing. Eliminates existing subclinical infections and protects through the dry period.
Cull Chronic Cases
Cows with 3+ clinical cases per lactation or SCC persistently above 1M are profit destroyers. They infect pen mates. Calculate the cost — culling almost always wins economically.
Maintain Milking Equipment
Check vacuum (40–44 kPa) and pulsation (55–65 cycles/min) monthly. Replace liners every 2,500 milkings or 3 months. Faulty equipment is a top 3 cause of mastitis on commercial farms.
Treat Clinical Cases Promptly
Identify cases at morning milking by stripping foremilk. Start IMM antibiotic same day. Delayed treatment → chronic infection → quartered cow. Record drug, dose, and withdrawal in HerdManager.co.
Teat Dipping Protocol
The right product, right concentration, right technique. Most farms do it wrong.
Pre-Dip (Before Milking)
0.1% iodine or 0.5% chlorhexidine. Apply, leave 30 seconds minimum, wipe completely dry with individual paper towel per cow. Pre-dip targets environmental mastitis (E. coli, Klebsiella).
Post-Dip (After Milking)
0.5% iodine post-dip. Cover entire teat — top two-thirds minimum. Do NOT wipe off. Apply within 30 seconds of unit removal while teat canal is still open. Critical for contagious mastitis prevention.
Dip Concentration
Iodine teat dips: 0.1% pre-dip, 0.5% post-dip. Do not over-dilute (reduces efficacy). Do not under-dilute (causes teat-end damage and irritation). Use a calibrated dispenser.
Spray vs Dip
Dipping (cup applicator) gives better coverage than spraying. If using a spray, use pressure sprayer at 10–15 cm distance, cover all surfaces. Single dip cups are most hygienic — change after each use.
SCC Monitoring
Somatic Cell Count is your early warning system. Track it monthly — act before clinical signs appear.
| SCC Range (cells/mL) | Status | Milk Loss | Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| < 100,000 | Excellent | None | Maintain current protocol |
| 100,000 – 200,000 | Good | Minimal | Monitor monthly |
| 200,000 – 400,000 | Warning | 2–7% | CMT test, review hygiene, check milking equipment |
| 400,000 – 1,000,000 | Action | 7–16% | Treat subclinical infection, review DCT compliance |
| > 1,000,000 | Chronic / Cull | >16% | Consider culling — infection risk to herd |
California Mastitis Test (CMT) — Field Use
CMT is the cheapest mastitis diagnostic available. Strip 1–2 mL foremilk from each quarter into the paddle. Add equal volume CMT reagent. Rotate for 10 seconds. No gel = negative. Slight gel = trace. Distinct gel = ++ (subclinical). Strong gel = +++ (clinical/chronic). Use monthly on all cows above 200,000 SCC.
Dry-Cow Therapy
The dry period is your best window to cure existing infections and protect through calving. DCT is the highest-ROI mastitis intervention.
When to Administer
At dry-off (last milking). Infuse all 4 quarters regardless of SCC status (blanket DCT) for high-risk housing. Selective DCT (SCC <200K, no clinical history) is appropriate for well-managed low-risk herds.
Products Available in Pakistan
Cloxacillin benzathine (e.g., Cepravin, Orbenin DC) — 28-day withdrawal after calving. Cefquinome — 21 days. Amoxicillin/Cloxacillin combination products also available. Always confirm withdrawal with product label.
Teat Sealant
Internal teat sealants (bismuth subnitrate paste — e.g., Teatseal, Orbeseal) physically block the teat canal. No antibiotic content — no withdrawal period. Use after DCT infusion, or alone in very low-SCC cows. Highly effective in Pakistani loose-housing conditions.
Halal Compliance
Ensure milk from DCT-treated cows is withheld for the full withdrawal period after calving. Log infusion date, product name, and milk withhold date in HerdManager.co. Do not sell colostrum within 24 hours of calving from treated cows.
Treatment of Clinical Mastitis
Act fast. Every 12-hour delay increases the risk of permanent quarter damage.
| Drug | Route | Withdrawal (Milk) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cefquinome (IMM) | Intramammary | 5 days | Most clinical mastitis |
| Cefapirin (IMM) | Intramammary | 2 days | Mild/moderate clinical |
| Amoxicillin (IMM) | Intramammary | 3 days | Strep/gram-positive |
| Oxytetracycline (systemic) | IM injection | 5 days | Systemic + IMM combo |
| Penicillin G (systemic) | IM injection | 3 days | Streptococcal mastitis |
| NSAIDs (Flunixin/Meloxicam) | IV/IM | 1–2 days | Pain relief, reduce inflammation — always add for acute cases |
Chloramphenicol is banned in food-producing animals in Pakistan
Never use chloramphenicol, nitrofurans, or nitroimidazoles in dairy animals. These drugs are banned under PSQCA food safety regulations and will result in milk rejection and legal consequences. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for treatment protocols.
Buffalo-Specific Mastitis Management
Nili-Ravi and Murrah buffaloes have unique mastitis risk factors compared to dairy cows.
CMT Interpretation
Buffalo milk has 6–8% fat vs 3.5–4.5% for cows. High fat content makes CMT gels form more readily. A '+' reaction in buffalo milk may not indicate mastitis. Use SCC lab testing to confirm borderline CMT results.
Milking Hygiene Critical
Buffaloes are oxytocin-dependent for let-down. Teat exposure time is longer during calf stimulation or oxytocin injection. This window is prime bacterial entry time. Pre-dip and post-dip are essential.
Subclinical Underdiagnosis
Subclinical mastitis is severely underdiagnosed in Pakistani buffalo herds — estimated 40–60% prevalence. Monthly CMT testing and SCC monitoring is the only way to catch it. Subclinical infection costs Rs 10,000–20,000/buffalo/year in lost milk.
Housing & Cleanliness
Bathan (tied housing) creates high bacterial pressure on teats from manure contact. Scrape manure minimum 3× daily. Ensure dry bedding. Wallow tanks and mud pens increase environmental mastitis risk — manage carefully.
Track Mastitis with HerdManager.co
Every mastitis event, treatment record, and SCC trend — logged, tracked, and acted on.
Health Event Log
Record every mastitis case with quarter, severity, pathogen (if cultured), and treatment administered. Full treatment history per cow.
Antibiotic Withdrawal
Log drug name, dose, administration date, and withdrawal period. Automatic alert before milk is cleared for sale. Halal compliant.
SCC Trend Tracking
Monthly SCC per cow graphed automatically. Flags cows above 200K, 400K, and 1M thresholds. Export for processor compliance reports.
Mastitis Alerts
Configurable alerts when SCC exceeds your threshold or when a cow has repeat clinical events. Catch subclinical cases before they become clinical.
Culling Decision Support
Automatic culling recommendation for cows with 3+ clinical cases per lactation. Includes economic analysis: treat vs cull profit comparison.
Mobile Field Recording
Log CMT results and clinical findings from your phone in the shed. No paper, no delays, no lost records. Works offline in areas with poor signal.
Milking Hygiene & Equipment
Good milking routine is the foundation. Equipment failure is a silent mastitis cause on many Pakistani farms.
Milking Routine (every milking)
1. Strip 3–4 squirts foremilk (check for abnormalities). 2. Pre-dip — 30-second contact. 3. Wipe dry with individual paper towel. 4. Attach unit. 5. Milk out fully. 6. Post-dip immediately on removal.
Equipment Maintenance
Check vacuum gauge monthly (40–44 kPa). Check pulsation (55–65 cycles/min). Replace rubber liners every 2,500 milkings or 3 months. Backflush clusters between cows. Sanitize milking line daily with caustic then acid wash.
Housing Cleanliness
Scrape manure twice daily minimum. Keep lying area dry (wet bedding = massive environmental mastitis pressure). Lime alleys and lying areas weekly. Adequate space per cow (5–6 m² loose housing).
Staff Training
Milking staff must follow routine consistently — every milking, every cow. Train new staff before they touch animals. A single untrained relief milker can spike farm SCC in 2 weeks.
Fresh Cow Management
Check all fresh cows (0–14 DIM) at every milking. Strip foremilk, check udder temperature and firmness. Transition stress = high mastitis susceptibility. CMT all fresh cows at Day 3 and Day 10.
Water Quality
Contaminated water in the milking machine wash cycle transfers bacteria to teat surfaces. Test water source annually for coliform counts. Use chlorinated water for equipment washing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common mastitis questions from Pakistani dairy farmers.
Stop Losing Money to Mastitis
Track SCC, log treatments, and manage antibiotic withdrawal automatically with HerdManager.co.