Mastitis is one of the costliest health problems in Indian dairy herds, reducing milk yield, quality, and farmer income. Many field proven practices now help farmers prevent and control mastitis effectively in local conditions of climate, housing, and management. This article on Top 10 Mastitis Control Protocols Proven in Indian Conditions explains practical steps that can be adopted by small, medium, and large dairy units. Each protocol focuses on simple routines, low cost improvements, and disciplined record keeping so that farmers, veterinarians, and extension workers can work together to protect udder health throughout the year.
#1 Pre milking udder and teat hygiene
Pre milking udder and teat hygiene is the foundation of mastitis prevention in Indian sheds where dust, dung, and flies are common. Every milking should start with washing teats using clean water, followed by wiping with a separate disposable tissue or individual cloth per animal. Forestripping a few streams of milk removes dirt from the teat canal and helps detect any abnormal milk at an early stage. Hands must be washed with soap before milking each group. Consistency in this simple routine sharply reduces new infections, especially in crowded village and peri urban dairy units.
#2 Regular post milking teat dipping
Post milking teat dipping has been proven worldwide and in Indian herds to cut down contagious mastitis caused by bacteria living on teat skin. Immediately after cluster removal or hand milking, each teat should be dipped or sprayed with an approved iodine or chlorhexidine based teat disinfectant that covers the entire teat surface. This protects the open teat canal until it closes naturally after milking. Using a clean dip cup and fresh solution every day prevents contamination. Farmers who adopted regular teat dipping report fewer swollen quarters, reduced antibiotic use, and more stable milk yields.
#3 Planned dry cow therapy at drying off
Dry cow therapy is a powerful protocol for herds where subclinical mastitis is common at milk collection centres. At drying off, each quarter is infused with a long acting intramammary antibiotic preparation as per veterinary advice, after proper teat cleaning and disinfection. This clears existing infections and prevents new ones during the dry period, when the teat canal is especially vulnerable. Combining dry cow therapy with internal teat sealants in high risk animals further improves protection. This approach is often very effective in Indian crossbred cows that face long dry periods and variable housing conditions.
#4 Correct milking order and segregation of cases
Milking order and segregation of infected animals are low cost changes that strongly influence mastitis spread, especially in hand milked Indian herds. Healthy cows should always be milked first, followed by cows that previously had mastitis, and lastly cows currently under treatment. Separate milking buckets or machines for infected animals greatly reduce cross infection. Marking mastitis cows with coloured leg bands or neck tags helps staff remember the correct order. When this protocol is followed daily and reliably, contagious bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus find fewer chances to pass from cow to cow during milking.
#5 Clean, dry housing and comfortable bedding
Clean, dry housing and comfortable resting areas reduce environmental mastitis caused by bacteria from dung, mud, and dirty bedding. In Indian loose housing systems, regular scraping of alleys, removal of dung, and provision of a slope for urine drainage are essential. Cows should have access to dry bedding such as sand or well managed straw that is changed frequently. Avoiding overflow from drinking troughs and repairing leaking pipes helps keep floors dry. Proper ventilation removes humidity and ammonia that irritate teat skin. When housing is kept clean, cows lie down more and udder health improves.
#6 Milking machine care and gentle hand milking
Milking machine maintenance and correct hand milking technique are critical but often neglected parts of mastitis control in India. For machine milking, pulsators, liners, and vacuum levels must be checked regularly so that teats are not over milked or injured. Liners should be replaced according to manufacturer recommendations and units must be washed and disinfected after every milking. For hand milking, full hand or knuckling techniques should be used rather than pulling the teat end. Rough handling, twisting, or stripping seriously damages the teat canal and gives bacteria an easy entry point into the udder.
#7 Early detection using milk and udder checks
Early detection and prompt reporting of mastitis cases prevent small problems from becoming herd wide outbreaks. Farmers and milkers should be trained to observe changes in milk such as flakes, clots, watery appearance, or blood, and to feel for heat, pain, or hardness in the udder. Simple stable side tests like the California mastitis test and strip cup examination help detect subclinical mastitis before visible changes appear. Regular screening of high yielding cows and newly purchased animals is especially useful. When suspicious cases are noticed early, veterinarians can quickly start targeted treatment and reduce losses.
#8 Standardised treatment and responsible antibiotics
Standardised treatment protocols based on culture and sensitivity testing give better results than random antibiotic use, which is still common in some Indian villages. Whenever possible, milk samples from clinical mastitis cases should be tested to identify the causative bacteria and select the most effective drug. Treatment duration, dosage, and route must strictly follow veterinary prescription. Anti inflammatory drugs, fluid therapy, and frequent stripping of the affected quarter support faster recovery. Recording each case and outcome helps refine protocols over time. Responsible antibiotic use also protects public health by reducing residues in milk and resistance.
#9 Handling of chronic and repeat mastitis cows
Management of chronic and repeat mastitis cases is an important but sometimes emotionally difficult protocol for small farmers who are attached to individual animals. Cows that continue to show high somatic cell counts, repeated swelling, or deformed quarters despite correct treatment become permanent sources of infection. Such animals should be milked last, housed separately, and considered for culling at the earliest economical opportunity. Strict screening of new animals before purchase, including udder examination and simple milk tests, prevents introduction of problem cows into the herd. This long term approach improves overall udder health and profitability.
#10 Training, records, and incentive based milk quality
Continuous farmer training, strong record keeping, and support from milk unions or private dairies tie all mastitis control protocols together. Regular extension meetings, on farm demonstrations, and mobile based advisory messages keep best practices fresh in the minds of milkers and family members. Simple registers for recording mastitis cases, treatments, and milk yield changes make it easier to measure progress. Many Indian dairies now offer quality based incentives for low somatic cell counts and clean milk. When farmers see clear financial benefits, they are more willing to adopt and sustain complete mastitis control programs consistently.