Introduction

Presentation of the book

Mastitis is the costliest disease affecting dairy cows. It is a global problem that impacts animal health and welfare and the profitability of commercial dairy farms.

This book provides veterinarians, animal scientists, students, herdsmen and farmers with practical tools to manage mastitis and improve milk quality on modern commercial dairies. It discusses the parameters of milk quality, identifies contagious and environmental mastitis-causing organisms and provides information to decrease the incidence of clinical and subclinical mastitis, thus improving milk quality.

The book offers a system approach to troubleshoot and improve milk quality in dairy cows by addressing all components affecting the parameters of milk quality, including the milking routine, the milking machine, the environment, the dry period, the workers, as well as other factors that impact milk quality.

Topics are presented in a practical and clear way with the objective of increasing the reader’s knowledge while providing information that could be applied in a real-world setting at the production site. Other factors beyond the biology and mechanics of mastitis, including the human and economic factors, are also presented allowing a potential reduction in the employees’ workload and an increase in economic benefits from reduced costs, increased cow health, and improved milk quality.