Why Are Dairy Cows Getting Repeat Infections? What Should Farmers Check in the Milking Routine?

A cow can look healthy while an infection is developing in the udder. Mastitis can affect milk production and quality, making udder health an important part of dairy management. Clean milking practices can help reduce the conditions that allow infections to spread.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research recommends proper udder preparation, clean milking equipment, hygienic surroundings and post-milking care as part of mastitis control. Farmers can incorporate many of these steps into their daily milking routine.

What is mastitis?

Mastitis is inflammation of the mammary gland, usually associated with infection. It can occur when microorganisms enter the udder through the teat canal.

Clinical mastitis can produce visible changes in the udder or milk. Subclinical mastitis may show no obvious external signs, yet it can still affect milk production and milk quality.

This makes routine observation important. A farmer should not wait for a severely swollen udder before paying attention to udder health.

Bacteria can move between animals through contaminated hands, towels, milking equipment or the environment. If the same contaminated material comes into contact with multiple teats or animals, microorganisms can spread during milking.

ICAR recommends maintaining clean milking practices and preventing contamination of the teat and udder. The milking area should also be kept as clean and dry as practical.

The udder and teats should be clean before milking. Mud, manure and other contaminants can carry microorganisms close to the teat opening. Farmers should clean visibly dirty teats and dry them properly before milking. Using a common dirty cloth across animals can transfer contamination, so clean materials should be used for udder preparation.

Why is drying important?

Water left on the teat can carry microorganisms toward the teat opening during milking. Wet skin can also provide conditions that allow contamination to remain around the teat. After cleaning, farmers should use a clean, dry material to dry the teats. The practice becomes especially important when animals are housed in areas where manure and mud can contaminate the udder.

Farmers should look at the udder and teats before starting. Swelling, heat, redness, wounds or other unusual changes can indicate a problem requiring closer attention. They should also check the first streams of milk for visible abnormalities. Changes such as clots, flakes or an unusual appearance should not be ignored.

Yes. Farmers should avoid treating all animals in the same way when some have udder infections. Animals known or suspected to have mastitis should be handled separately from healthy animals. Milking healthy animals first and affected animals later can reduce opportunities for contamination. Equipment and hands should also be cleaned appropriately between animals.

Milking machines can reduce manual work, but poor cleaning or incorrect operation can create hygiene problems. Milk-contact surfaces need regular cleaning according to the equipment manufacturer’s instructions. Farmers should also check liners, teat cups, hoses and other components for damage or wear. Equipment that is not maintained properly can affect both udder health and milk quality.

Yes. Cows spend considerable time lying down, and dirty or wet bedding can bring microorganisms into contact with the udder. Farmers should keep resting areas as clean and dry as possible and remove manure regularly. Good housing hygiene can reduce the amount of contamination animals encounter before and after milking.

What should happen after milking?

Post-milking teat care is another important control point. The teat canal can remain more exposed immediately after milking, creating an opportunity for microorganisms to enter. ICAR’s dairy-management guidance includes teat dipping or spraying with an appropriate disinfectant after milking as a mastitis-control practice. Farmers should use products and concentrations recommended by a veterinarian or animal-health professional.

Nutrition supports overall animal health, but feeding alone cannot replace hygienic milking practices. A dairy animal needs an adequate and balanced diet, clean water and appropriate management.

If a cow repeatedly develops mastitis, farmers should investigate housing, milking hygiene, equipment and possible infectious causes rather than simply changing the feed.

Farmers should watch for changes in milk, swelling or abnormal heat in the udder and changes in the animal’s behaviour during milking. Reduced milk production can also indicate a problem. Subclinical infections may not produce obvious external symptoms. Regular milk-quality checks or tests recommended by veterinarians can help identify problems that are difficult to see.

Farmers should not select antibiotics or treatment doses without veterinary guidance. Different causes and stages of mastitis may require different approaches. Incorrect treatment can fail to resolve the infection and can create problems with antibiotic residues in milk. Milk from treated animals also needs to be handled according to veterinary advice and applicable withdrawal periods.

What should small dairy farmers change first?

Farmers do not need expensive equipment to improve basic hygiene. They can start by keeping the milking area clean, washing visibly dirty udders, drying teats with clean material and maintaining clean hands.

They should also separate animals with suspected infections and seek veterinary advice early. Small changes repeated at every milking can help reduce avoidable contamination.

Clean milking reduces the opportunity for dirt and microorganisms to enter milk. This matters because milk quality depends not only on the animal but also on how milk is handled after it leaves the udder. Farmers should use clean containers and protect freshly collected milk from dust, manure, dirty water and other sources of contamination.

What should farmers check every day?

A simple daily check can include the animal’s udder, teats, milk appearance, milking equipment and cleanliness of the housing area. Farmers should record animals that show repeated problems. If the same cow develops infections repeatedly, veterinary examination can help determine whether there is an underlying management or health issue.

Mastitis control begins before the first drop of milk is collected. Clean housing, clean equipment, proper udder preparation and careful handling can reduce opportunities for microorganisms to enter the udder or contaminate milk.

Farmers should treat repeated infections as a management problem worth investigating. Checking the milking routine, housing, equipment and animal health can help identify where contamination is occurring. Early veterinary advice is important when an animal shows signs of mastitis.