Is Your Cow Kicking During Milking? The Silent Signs of Mastitis (Thanella)
It’s the most frustrating moment in a dairy farmer’s day. You sit down to milk a usually calm, docile cow, and suddenly—wham. She kicks the bucket, shifts restlessly, or refuses to let you touch her udder.
Is she just in a bad mood? Is she being stubborn?
Likely not. In 80% of cases, sudden behavioral changes during milking are a cry for help. Your cow is in pain. And the culprit is often the dairy industry’s biggest enemy: Mastitis (Thanella).
At Bueza Pets, we know that a drop in milk quality means a drop in your income. Here is everything you need to know to spot the "Silent Threat" before it destroys your herd’s productivity.
What is Mastitis? (Understanding the Enemy)
Mastitis is, simply put, an inflammation of the mammary gland (udder) usually caused by a bacterial infection. It can be:
-
Clinical: Visible signs like swelling, clots in milk, or heat.
-
Sub-Clinical: The dangerous "silent" version where the milk looks normal, but the infection is spreading and milk yield is slowly dropping.
In India, Mastitis causes annual losses of thousands of crores to the dairy industry due to discarded milk and veterinary costs.
The Visual Check: Healthy vs. Infected Udder
Before you attach the milking machine or start hand-milking, take 10 seconds to inspect the udder.
✅ The Healthy Udder
-
Feel: Soft, pliable, and cool to the touch.
-
Appearance: Evenly shaped, no redness.
-
Milk: Smooth flow, consistent white liquid.
-
Cow's Reaction: Calm, chewing cud, relaxed.
⚠️ The Infected Udder (Mastitis)
-
Feel: Hard, "stone-like" patches, or unusually hot.
-
Appearance: One quarter may look larger, swollen, or red/shiny.
-
Milk: May contain flakes, clots, blood, or look watery/yellow.
-
Cow's Reaction: Kicking, stomping, or shifting weight when you touch the teats. This is the pain response.
3 Warning Signs You Might Be Missing
Farmers often wait for the milk to "look bad" before calling a vet. By then, the damage is already done. Watch for these earlier signs:
1. The "Kick" Reflex
If a cow that is normally quiet starts dancing or kicking when you wash or touch her udder, she is telling you that the tissue is inflamed. Even before swelling is visible to the eye, the pain is real.
2. The "Salty" Milk
In the early stages of Mastitis, the electrolyte balance in the milk changes. While you might not taste it, the milk's conductivity changes. If you have a conductivity meter, use it. If not, watch for a sudden refusal of the calf to drink from a specific teat.
3. The Unexplained Drop in Yield
Has a high-producing cow suddenly dropped 1-2 liters per day? Don't blame the feed immediately. Sub-clinical Mastitis blocks the milk ducts, reducing production without showing obvious external signs.
The Strip Cup Test: Your First Line of Defense
You don't need a lab to start diagnosing. Every dairy farmer should have a Strip Cup (a black-bottomed cup).
How to do it:
-
Before full milking, squirt the first few streams of milk from each teat into the Strip Cup.
-
Look at the black background.
-
Do you see white flakes, clots, or stringy mucus?
-
If yes, stop milking that cow into the main tank. You must isolate her milk to prevent contaminating your bulk cooler.
Prevention: Hygiene is Profit
Mastitis is contagious. It spreads from cow to cow via your hands, milking machines, or dirty bedding.
-
Dip Teats: Always use a post-milking iodine dip. This seals the teat canal (which stays open for 30 minutes after milking) against bacteria.
-
Dry Bedding: Bacteria love moisture. Keep the sitting area dry and limed.
-
Milk Infected Cows Last: Always milk your healthy herd first, and the sick cows last, to avoid spreading the infection.
Don't Guess. Consult a Vet Instantly.
Home remedies like turmeric and aloe vera can help reduce swelling, but they do not kill the bacteria deep inside the udder. If left untreated, Mastitis can permanently damage the teat, rendering the cow "three-quartered" and destroying her value.
You don't need to transport your sick cow to a hospital.
With Bueza Pets, you can video call an expert veterinarian right from your cattle shed.
-
Show us the udder condition via camera.
-
Show us the milk consistency.
-
Get an immediate prescription and treatment plan.
Save your cow. Save your milk. Save your profit.
👉 [Click Here to Book a Vet Teleconsultation at www.bueza.in]
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Can I drink milk from a cow with Mastitis? A: No. Mastitis milk contains bacteria and often antibiotic residues (if treated). It can cause food poisoning and is unfit for human consumption.
Q: Is Mastitis curable? A: Yes, if caught early! Antibiotics (intramammary infusions) and anti-inflammatory drugs are highly effective in the early stages. Chronic cases are harder to cure.
Q: Why does my cow get Mastitis repeatedly? A: This usually indicates a hygiene issue in the shed or improper milking machine pressure. A vet can review your farm setup via video call to spot the root cause.