Udder health in lactating cows
Gaining insight and acting at the right moment
Udder health is a daily concern for dairy farmers, especially during lactation. When milk production drops, somatic cell count increases or mastitis appears repeatedly in the herd, farmers start looking for answers. Questions such as “Why do udder infections keep coming back?” or “Which cows need attention today?” often arise when problems are already visible. However, effective udder health management begins much earlier.
During the lactation cycle of the cow, the udder is under constant pressure. High milk yield, frequent milking moments and changing environmental conditions all increase the risk of udder inflammation. This makes early detection and clear insight essential to prevent small deviations from developing into serious mastitis cases.
Data and insights through Horizon
Why udder health requires continuous monitoring during lactation
Lactating cows are more vulnerable to health challenges than dry cows. Shortly after calving, cows often experience metabolic stress, such as negative energy balance or ketosis, which can weaken the immune system. Combined with the physical load on the udder, this creates ideal conditions for udder infections to develop.
Udder health problems rarely occur suddenly. In most cases, they build up gradually. Subtle changes in milk quality, behaviour or production are often the first signs that something is wrong. If these early signals are overlooked, inflammation can progress and lead to higher somatic cell count, reduced milk quality and clinical mastitis.
Understanding early signals of udder problems
Changes in udder health usually become visible through deviations in milk-related parameters. A rising somatic cell count is one of the most common indicators of udder inflammation. In addition, changes in milk conductivity, milk colour or milk temperature can point to the early stages of mastitis. Behavioural changes also play a role. Cows with udder discomfort may visit the milking robot less frequently or show reduced activity. On busy farms, especially those working with larger herds or hired labour, it can be difficult to notice these signals without structured monitoring.
From raw data to meaningful udder health insights
Modern dairy farms generate large amounts of data every day. Milk yield, milk quality, cow activity and milking behaviour all provide valuable information. However, data only becomes truly useful when it is translated into clear insights. By combining milk quality information with cow behaviour and production data, farmers can identify which cows deviate from their normal pattern. This makes it possible to focus attention on cows that truly need it, instead of checking the entire herd manually. Over time, this approach also helps reveal structural patterns, such as udder health issues linked to specific lactation stages, seasonal heat stress or management routines.
Acting early to prevent mastitis and milk losses
Early action is crucial when it comes to udder health. The sooner an udder infection is identified, the greater the chance of quick recovery and limited milk loss. Timely intervention can also influence treatment decisions and help prevent the spread of infection within the herd. Consistent follow-up is just as important. Rechecking cows after treatment and monitoring their recovery provides valuable insight into what works well on the farm and where improvements are needed. This creates a learning cycle that strengthens udder health management over time.
Udder health as part of total cow health management
Udder health does not stand alone. Cows struggling with fertility problems, claw disorders or heat stress are often more susceptible to udder infections. Reduced mobility or discomfort can lead to longer lying times in less hygienic areas , increasing the risk of bacterial exposure at the teat level. That is why effective udder health management should always be part of a broader cow health strategy. Nutrition, housing, milking routine and overall farm management all influence the cow’s resistance and resilience during lactation.
Improving udder health through insight and routine
Dairy farmers who want to improve udder health during lactation benefit from continuous insight into milk quality and cow behaviour. Digital farm management tools such as Lely Horizon can play an important role in this process. Acting as a digital counterpart to the farmer and the farm, the software works around the clock as an extra set of eyes, monitoring cows, milking robots and sensor data. By continuously analysing up-to-date information from multiple sources, it helps identify cows that deviate from their normal pattern and need attention.
This early identification allows farmers to intervene at the right moment, often before udder health issues such as mastitis / high somatic cell count become clinically visible. With clear overviews, predictions and practical advice, farmers can focus their time on the cows that truly need it. This supports healthier udders, lower somatic cell counts and improved cow welfare, while contributing to more stable milk production and a smoother daily workflow on the farm.
Other Farming Insights
Rumen health in dairy cows
Stable rumen health is essential for the health of dairy cows and consistent milk production. The rumen functions optimally within a narrow pH range. When rumen pH drops too far, rumen acidosis develops. This is a common but often underestimated issue within dairy herd health.
Rumen acidosis occurs when dairy cows consume large amounts of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates while there is insufficient structure in the ration. As a result, rumen pH falls below the optimal level, disrupting the microbial balance. This affects not only feed efficiency but also the overall health of the cow.
Why cows love to brush
For dairy cows, grooming is far more than a luxury, it is an essential behaviour linked to comfort, welfare and emotional balance. Many farmers are surprised to learn how strongly cows are motivated to scratch and brush themselves. In fact, controlled experiments have shown that cows will work just as hard to access a mechanical brush as they do to access fresh feed, underlining how important grooming is to them as a natural need.
Cows experience itchiness, loose hair, parasites, dust, sweat build‑up and general irritation on different parts of the body throughout the day. Their instinct is to rub against trees, posts or rough surfaces. However, in modern barns these natural scratching objects are often unavailable. This makes a mechanical cow brush a powerful enrichment tool, one that allows cows to express natural grooming behaviour that would otherwise be restricted.
