#Text and pictures: Dr. Sofie Piepers – MEX™ & Ghent University (Sofie@mexcellence.eu)

This article demonstrates how key milk quality indicators, including rates of new intramammary infections, cure rates, chronic infections, and dry-period performance, can be used as practical diagnostic tools to identify the root causes of elevated somatic cell counts. Through a data-driven approach and real on-farm examples, readers will learn how to distinguish between lactation-related and dry-period problems, interpret infection patterns, and translate milk recording data into targeted, evidence-based management solutions. By focusing on the problem before the solution, veterinarians, advisors, and dairy farmers can develop more effective herd-specific mastitis control strategies, improve milk quality, and achieve sustainable improvements in udder health.