Excellent udder health for high quality milk

The innate immune system of a dairy animal plays an important role in susceptibility to disease, such as mastitis, and influences milk production. At the time of calving, the immune system is more fragile, and the udder may mount a response to both infectious and non-infectious stressors. 

Guarding against mastitis is of the utmost importance. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland, and one of the most significant
diseases of dairy cattle. Diagnosis of mastitis can be made based on proof of inflammation. 

Fostering the immune system for optimal responses can help animals resist the establishment of mastitis when infections occur. By modifying the known risk factors and by optimising herd management, risk levels can be low.

In the past, clinical examination, and the presence of somatic cells on the milk were mainly used, but current examination procedures and sensor techniques can broaden this spectrum. Infectious stressors are constituted by the different pathogens present in the udder, which might provoke relatively different inflammatory responses. The control of microbial pathogens can be done by active immunization, such as vaccination or intracanalicular injections, to reach adequate protective levels in the mammary gland.