A study of blocked teats in small scale dairy farms

Abstract

Fifty five cases of blocked teats from 34 lactating dairy cows are reported. Breed and mammary quarter had no effect but significantly more teats were blocked at the canal than either the base or the tip. The majority of the cases had indications of traumatic origin with evidence of fibrosis on biopsy. Surgical treatment was complicated by recurrence and mastitis, making the prognosis of blocked teats in small scale dairy farms poor.