Assessment of the mammary system

Assessing the health status of the mammary gland is a complex and often perplexing endeavor. One must use all of the faculties available to come up with an accurate diagnosis. A detailed history of the individual and the herd or flock plus a thorough physical examination that includes specific attention paid to the mammary gland are essential. One cannot overlook these basic tenets in favor of more sophisticated means of evaluation such as somatic cell counts and milk microbiology. A holistic approach to mastitis diagnosis, treatment, and, most importantly, control is necessary.