Managing Mastitis in Dairy Cows: Assessing Current Challenges, New Strategies, and Future Prospects for Economic Sustainability and Herd Health
Keywords:
Bovine mastitis, Antimicrobial resistance, Prevention strategies, EconomyAbstract
Background/Objective- Mastitis is considered one of the most costly and common diseases in the dairy cow industry, which, in addition to direct economic losses due to reduced milk production and quality, treatment costs, and premature culling, has profound effects on public health, food security, and animal welfare. It is becoming increasingly apparent that old management tactics need to be reexamined in light of emerging diseases and the worrying rise in antibiotic resistance. The purpose of this systematic review is to provide an in-depth analysis of the issues currently being faced, assess the efficacy of novel solutions, and provide an overview of the future prognosis for the management of mastitis to establish a sustainable dairy farming system.
Method- This study used a narrative review approach, with a structured search across databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords used included “bovine mastitis”, “mastitis management”, “antimicrobial resistance”, “new diagnostic approaches”, and “mastitis prevention”. Relevant articles published between January 2019 and August 2025 in this field were collected, screened, and qualitative content analyzed based on predefined criteria.
Results- Based on the data, the most successful techniques for treating mastitis are those that incorporate diverse, integrated approaches. Milking cleanliness, teat dipping, feeding management, and environmental management are among the preventive methods that continue to form the foundation of illness prevention. In addition, the development of novel diagnostic technologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), biosensors, and infrared imaging, has enabled the timely and reliable identification of pathogens, even at the subclinical stage. Furthermore, the sensible use of antibiotics guided by culture and antibiogram results, in conjunction with other treatments such as phage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, nanodrug delivery, probiotics, and essential oils, is a potential approach to combat antimicrobial resistance. According to economic studies, the rates of return on investments in preventive programs are much higher than those on treatment expenses.
Conclusion- The future of mastitis management in cattle depends on adopting a “prevention-oriented, technological and responsible” paradigm. Combining effective traditional management with rapid diagnostic technologies and alternative treatments will be key to reducing antibiotic dependence, increasing productivity, and ensuring economic and environmental sustainability in dairy herds. Continuous education of farmers and interdisciplinary collaboration between veterinarians, researchers, and industry are also crucial for success in this direction.
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