Early insight into udder health and mastitis risk

The dry period plays a crucial role in the health and productivity of dairy cows. It allows the udder to recover from the previous lactation and prepares the cow for a successful start of the next one. At the same time, it is a key moment to reduce the risk of mastitis and udder infection in early lactation.

In recent years, dairy farming has moved towards a more targeted approach: selective dry cow therapy. Instead of treating all cows with antibiotics at dry off, treatment decisions are based on individual cow health. Accurate and timely insight into somatic cell count (SCC) is essential for this approach.

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.

Feed intake of dairy cows forms the foundation of every successful dairy operation. Optimising feed intake directly contributes to better cow health, higher milk production, and more stable fertility. In practice, however, this remains a challenge: fluctuating forage quality, heat stress in cows, rumen acidosis, or subclinical ketosis can silently reduce feed intake.

In this article, we take a closer look at how to optimize the ration for dairy cows, which health indicators play a key role, and how cow health monitoring and data-driven cow health management can contribute to a strong, future-proof dairy herd.

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.

A healthy metabolism forms the basis of cow health and stable milk production. The calving process places significant demands on the cow. After calving, energy requirements increase rapidly, while feed intake often lags behind. This period of negative energy balance in cows increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as ketosis in dairy cows. For good dairy herd health, it is crucial to understand this phase well and intervene early.

Mechanical brushes are increasingly recognized as a vital tool for improving cow welfare, far beyond basic grooming. The science behind brushing shows compelling benefits in stress reduction, physiological well-being and even productivity.