Mastitis is an inflammation of the udder tissue, usually caused by bacteria that enter through the teat canal. The immune system responds immediately, causing the somatic cell count (SCC) to rise. SCC is a common measure: lower is better. Around 100 is usually acceptable, and from 250 to 300 or higher, it is not acceptable and you often see more culling. Mastitis in cows can be clinical, with visible abnormalities, or subclinical, where you only notice the damage in production and cell count.

What is often underestimated here: A cow’s udder is your first line of defense. If the teat end is damaged, or if hyperkeratosis of the teat develops, the natural barrier deteriorates. Hyperkeratosis of the teat is essentially callus formation around the teat opening. This may seem harmless, but it increases the likelihood that bacteria can attach and enter. That is why prevention does not start with medication, but with teat condition.

When things go wrong, you want to act quickly and in a controlled manner. Treating mastitis in cows depends on the severity and the underlying cause. In practice, this often means following your veterinarian’s protocol, with a focus on pain management and hygiene to prevent reinfection. When addressing questions like “how do you treat mastitis in cows?”, the most important thing is not just to treat “the cow,” but also to address the underlying cause in your process. Otherwise, you’ll be treating mastitis in cows again in two weeks, with the same problem in a different cow.

In severe cases or when milk appears abnormal, the approach may need to be more intensive. Blood in a cow’s milk may indicate severe inflammation or damage and requires prompt evaluation. And in chronic cases, especially if it recurs, you must honestly assess the risk of herd contamination and the likelihood of recovery. That’s not pleasant, but it’s part of farm management.

Many farms use ™AktivPULS because it has a measurable impact on daily operations. Think of an average 11 percent higher milk flow rate, approximately 20 percent better teat condition, and a lifespan up to three times longer than rubber. In the field, we see examples where SCC drops from 170 to 63, precisely because the teat end becomes less irritated and the foundation is restored. ™AktivPULS is used by more than 2,000 dairy farmers, in milking parlors and with robots, and fits multiple brands.

Whether you’re using a robotic milking system, an automatic milking machine, or a portable milking machine for a separate group, the principle remains the same: you want consistent milk yield without causing additional damage to the teat end. A milking machine for a single cow can be useful in specific situations, but even then, the milking technique and the fit of the liner determine whether you solve or merely shift problems. Even when milking a cow in a small setting, you want to prevent unnoticed hyperkeratosis from developing on the teats, because it will later return in the herd as mastitis.

If your somatic cell count is rising, or if you see clear hyperkeratosis during teat inspection, it’s time to have your milking process technically assessed. Not to add “yet another product,” but to eliminate the cause that is costing you money every day in milk loss and animal health expenses.