Ecolab Introduces Mastitis KPI and Risk Management System at Budapest Seminar
At the international seminar by CID LINES, an Ecolab company, held on April 20–21, 2026, in Budapest, industry experts presented a systematic approach to mastitis control based on epidemiological models and key performance indicators (KPI) management.
Vedran Loncaric, Technical Manager of Ecolab Dairy Farm, delivered a presentation detailing the mechanisms of disease spread and herd-level control tools.
According to him, this approach is the foundation of modern epidemiological models, which not only identify the causes of the disease but also build an effective prevention system.
The contagious model involves infection transmission from cow to cow, primarily through milking equipment, personnel hands, and milking protocol violations. In this model, controlling milking hygiene is crucial.
The environmental model is associated with external factors such as bedding, manure, water, and living conditions. In this case, the focus is on the farm's sanitary state and animal housing management.
It was noted that in practice, a mixed model is most common, requiring simultaneous control of both risk types.
For subclinical disease, key indicators include:
* prevalence (percentage of cows with SCC levels above 200,000 cells/ml), target level — no more than 15%,
* incidence (new cases), target level — no more than 5%.
For clinical mastitis, the following benchmarks are used:
A high SCC level in the tank reflects the overall herd condition, while individual indicators help identify chronically infected animals. A critical level is considered to be 200,000 cells/ml.
In addition to SCC, bacteriological studies, PCR diagnostics, and digital monitoring systems are used.
Environmental risks include:
* wet and contaminated bedding,
* high housing density,
* insufficient ventilation,
* contaminated resting areas.
A practical indicator of a problematic environment, according to the report, is when more than 25% of animals have contaminated limbs or udders.
* strict pre- and post-milking disinfection,
* milking cluster disinfection,
* personnel hygiene control,
* regular equipment performance checks.
For environmental mastitis, key measures include:
* ensuring dry bedding,
* improving ventilation,
* reducing housing density,
* constant monitoring of sanitary indicators.
In the presented approach, mastitis is viewed as a manageable farm performance indicator directly affecting milk quality and economic production results.
The Budapest seminar was part of Ecolab's international program aimed at spreading scientifically based practices to enhance the safety, quality, and profitability of dairy production.
Mastitis as a Multifactorial System
During the presentation, the speaker emphasized that mastitis should be viewed not as an isolated issue but as a result of the interaction of four key factors: the animal, the pathogen, the environment, and farm management practices.According to him, this approach is the foundation of modern epidemiological models, which not only identify the causes of the disease but also build an effective prevention system.
Two Scenarios of Infection Spread
Vedran Loncaric outlined two basic pathways for mastitis transmission.The contagious model involves infection transmission from cow to cow, primarily through milking equipment, personnel hands, and milking protocol violations. In this model, controlling milking hygiene is crucial.
The environmental model is associated with external factors such as bedding, manure, water, and living conditions. In this case, the focus is on the farm's sanitary state and animal housing management.
It was noted that in practice, a mixed model is most common, requiring simultaneous control of both risk types.
KPI as a Herd Management Tool
A significant portion of the presentation was dedicated to the implementation of KPIs for mastitis monitoring.For subclinical disease, key indicators include:
* prevalence (percentage of cows with SCC levels above 200,000 cells/ml), target level — no more than 15%,
* incidence (new cases), target level — no more than 5%.
For clinical mastitis, the following benchmarks are used:
- case frequency — up to 25% annually or about 2% monthly,
- recurrence rate — no more than 25%,
- severity structure: about 50% mild cases, 35% moderate, and 5–15% severe.
The Role of SCC and Diagnostics
Special attention was given to the somatic cell count (SCC), which remains a fundamental indicator of udder health.A high SCC level in the tank reflects the overall herd condition, while individual indicators help identify chronically infected animals. A critical level is considered to be 200,000 cells/ml.
In addition to SCC, bacteriological studies, PCR diagnostics, and digital monitoring systems are used.
Key Risk Factors
In the contagious model, the main risk sources include:- insufficient teat disinfection before and after milking,
- milking sequence violations,
- contaminated gloves and equipment,
- milking equipment malfunctions.
Environmental risks include:
* wet and contaminated bedding,
* high housing density,
* insufficient ventilation,
* contaminated resting areas.
A practical indicator of a problematic environment, according to the report, is when more than 25% of animals have contaminated limbs or udders.
Practical Measures to Reduce Risks
To reduce contagious mastitis, the following are recommended:* strict pre- and post-milking disinfection,
* milking cluster disinfection,
* personnel hygiene control,
* regular equipment performance checks.
For environmental mastitis, key measures include:
* ensuring dry bedding,
* improving ventilation,
* reducing housing density,
* constant monitoring of sanitary indicators.
Transition from Treatment to Management
As Vedran Loncaric noted, effective mastitis control is impossible without transitioning to a systematic management model based on data and standardized processes.In the presented approach, mastitis is viewed as a manageable farm performance indicator directly affecting milk quality and economic production results.
The Budapest seminar was part of Ecolab's international program aimed at spreading scientifically based practices to enhance the safety, quality, and profitability of dairy production.
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