Udder Health Subgroup
University of Copenhagen has a long history and a strong profile on udder health and mastitis research.
Our udder‑health research spans from understanding risk factors for clinical and subclinical mastitis to effective strategies for treatment and prevention. We study infection dynamics, pathogen characteristics, and transmission routes in dairy herds, with a particular focus on how management practices and cow‑level factors influence mastitis risk. Our work also includes clinical mastitis diagnosis and on‑farm intervention studies, where we evaluate treatment strategies, selective therapy decisions, and approaches that support responsible antibiotic use. By combining epidemiology, microbiology, and practical herd‑level solutions, our research aims to improve udder health, enhance animal welfare, and contribute to more sustainable dairy production.
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Udder health is a key cornerstone in modern dairy management, ensuring optimal milk production, profitability, and the welfare of our cows.
From RUMIOH:
From other research groups at UCPH:
- Michael Farre – SEGES
- Volker Krömker – HS Hannover
- Henk Hogeveen – Wageningen University
- Lars Rönnegård – SLU
- Hector Marina - SLU
- NKJ Nordic Mastitis Researchers’ Network
- Niemi, R., Timonen, A., Woudstra, S., Svennesen, L., Dahlberg, J., Seligsohn, D., & Kielland, C. (2026). Nordic Mastitis Research Network collaborates to gain and share knowledge that enhances dairy udder health and milk quality. M2-Magazine: Magazine on Mastitis and Milk quality for the dairy professional, 2026(16), 10-13.
Treatment strategies for severe clinical mastitis
Severe clinical mastitis remains a challenge in dairy farms. Affected animals often become severely sick and a significant proportion of affected animals do not survive or leave the farms because of ongoing problems within a few weeks. To date, evidence for the most effective treatment strategies remains scarce.
The aim of the project is to describe the most effective treatment strategies used by practicing veterinarians in Denmark. We also investigate the importance of supportive treatments administered by the farmer.
This project is supported by the European partnership on animal health and welfare (EUPAHW).
A recent joint IVH-IKV veterinary master project is the first outcome of our efforts to improve treatment strategies of severe clinical mastitis cases in Denmark: Effekten-af-danske-dyrlagers-og-landmands-behandlingsstrategier.pdf
From the left: Thomas Dahl Nissen (censor), Kirstin Dahl-Petersen, Mette Bisgaard Pedersen, Line Svennesen (supervisors), Malene Tærsbøl Jepsen, Helle Kjærgaard Lindum (students), Svenja Woudstra (supervisor)
Selektiv goldning med ansvarligt antibiotikaforbrug
The objective of the project is to develop research-based methods and recommendations for dairy farmers at the herd level to effectively identify which cows and udder quarters can be selectively dried off without negatively impacting cell counts at the cow or quarter level. This contributes to profitable production and internationally competitive farming practices, where the use of antibiotics is based on scientific evidence.
Nadja Alsted is the PhD student in this project. The project is supported by the Danish Milk Levy Foundation.
DigiGuard project
Develop and validation of an automated computational tool to monitor and prevent the transmission of bacteria causing mastitis on dairy farms.
Yversundhed i Top gennem bedre behandlingsstrategier
The purpose of the project was to reduce the occurrence of clinical and subclinical mastitis in cows and consequently decrease the use of antibiotics in dairy cattle. This was achieved by developing and implementing evidence-based control strategies for mastitis that rely on improved diagnostics and antibiotic treatment. The project was funded by the Danish Milk Levy Foundation.
Sikker diagnostik i B-streptokokbesætninger
This project aimed at improving the handling of Streptococcus agalactiae in infected dairy herds. The project was funded by the Danish Milk Levy Foundation.
ACROBAT project
The aim of this project was to conduct research on how to reduce the use of antibiotics in cattle and poultry. This project was funded by the Danish contingency under the DK-VET consortium.
Yversundhed i verdensklasse
The purpose was to improve milk quality and udder health, which will result in an increase in milk yield and a decrease in antibiotic usage among Danish dairy farmers. The project was funded by the Danish Dairy Foundation.
Cow Social Interaction and Disease Transmission
The udder health related purpose of this project was to investigate transmission pathways and infection dynamics and link these with precision livestock farming data.
- Drying-off practices and cell count–based new infection and cure risk over the dry period on 765 German dairy farms
- Status of udder health performance indicators and implementation of on farm monitoring on German dairy cow farms: results from a large scale cross-sectional study
- Treatment of clinically severe bovine mastitis - a scoping review
- Lessons learnt from strain types, milking order, and mastitis pathogen transmission
- Milking System Changeover and Effects Thereof on the Occurrence of Intramammary Infections in Dairy Cows
- Using registry data to identify individual dairy cows with abnormal patterns in routinely recorded somatic cell counts
- Treatment of mild to moderate clinical bovine mastitis caused by gram-positive bacteria: A noninferiority randomized trial of local penicillin treatment alone or combined with systemic treatment
- Reservoirs of Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. Associated with Intramammary Infections of Dairy Cows
- Clinical mastitis due to NAS infections does not require systemic treatment: how we can reduce the use of antibiotics
- Treatment of clinical mastitis: intramammary or in combination with parenteral administration of penicillin?
- Reservoirs of Corynebacterium in the Environment of Dairy Cows
- Strain diversity and infection durations of Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. causing intramammary infections in dairy cows
- Veterinary Treatment Approach and Antibiotic Usage for Clinical Mastitis in Danish Dairy Herds
- Dynamics of somatic cell count (SCC) and differential SCC during and following intramammary infections
- Transmission Dynamics of Corynebacterium Within Two Danish Dairy Cattle Herds
- Effect of enhanced hygiene on transmission of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae in dairy herds with automatic milking systems
Contact
Line Svennesen
phone: +45 35 33 77 28
e-mail: line.svennesen@sund.ku.dk
Svenja Woudstra
phone: +45 35 33 24 05
e-mail: svenja.woudstra@sund.ku.dk