Seasonal Teat Scoring: A Simple Habit to Protect Udder Health Year-Round

Healthy teats are the first line of defense against mastitis and milk quality loss. Yet subtle changes in teat condition often go unnoticed until somatic cell counts rise or clinical cases appear. Regular teat condition scoring can catch those warning signs early — and the value of that habit shifts with every season.

Each season brings its own challenges: cold and wind in winter, mud and moisture in spring, heat and flies in summer, and bedding transitions in fall. A few minutes spent scoring teats throughout the year can highlight how equipment, environment, and teat care practices are performing under real conditions.

Why Scoring Matters

Teat condition scoring costs nothing but time. It helps identify problems linked to milking system settings, teat dip formulations, and environmental factors before they lead to mastitis or reduced milk flow.

Research has shown that cows with damaged or chapped teats produce 3–8% less milk and take up to 50% longer to milk. As teats heal, milk yield improves and milking time shortens — proof that early detection protects both productivity and animal comfort.

How to Score

The process is simple. Use clean, gloved hands and good lighting to check teats before or just after milking.

• Before milking: look for environmental damage — cracks, dryness, or weather-related chapping.
• After milking: check for machine-related changes — redness, swelling, rings, or wedging at the teat end.
• Record findings by cow and quarter to track changes. Even a basic “normal / minor / severe” note is valuable.

Black or pigmented teats can be harder to assess, so focus on lighter areas of the skin. Keep records — patterns over time are often more revealing than individual scores.

Winter: Cold, Wind, and Overdry Conditions

Freezing temperatures and dry barn air can quickly chap and crack teat skin. Damage increases if cows leave the parlour with damp teats or if dip products have low emollient content.

• Use a teat dip with 7–10% emollient to lock in moisture.
• Keep cows in a draft-free holding area until teats are dry.
• Avoid strong iodine dips that may over-dry in cold weather.

Score teats daily during severe cold snaps. If more than 10% of cows have red or dry teats, review drying time and dip formulation immediately.

Spring: Moisture and Bedding Challenges

Spring’s thaw means mud, moisture, and changing bedding. Cracked or open skin can easily harbour bacteria from wet bedding or muddy alleys.

• Keep bedding dry and replace sawdust frequently.
• Repair uneven stalls that trap moisture.
• Watch for early signs of environmental mastitis from coliforms or Klebsiella species.

A rise in rough or swollen teat ends this time of year can point to lingering winter overmilking damage or fresh bacterial exposure from damp environments.

Summer: Heat, Flies, and Sun

Hot weather brings its own irritants — flies, UV exposure, and sweat. Fly bites or sunburned teats create openings for bacteria and make cows more sensitive during milking.

• Use fly control around parlour entrances and holding areas.
• Apply sun-protective teat dips or barrier creams if cows are on pasture.
• Ensure milking vacuum settings remain stable as temperatures rise; heat can affect rubber parts and liner slip.

Scoring in summer can help detect teat-end swelling or irritation from friction caused by higher liner movement.

Fall: Equipment Transition and Herd Changes

As herds adjust to cooler temperatures and barns switch bedding types, teat scoring helps monitor how changes are affecting teat health.

• After harvest, cows often spend more time indoors, increasing exposure to sawdust or sand-borne pathogens.
• Hyperkeratosis (rough teat ends) may flare up if take-off settings aren’t adjusted for lower milk flow later in lactation.

Recording teat condition through the fall can reveal if adjustments are needed before winter housing fully sets in.

Setting Realistic Targets

Even well-managed herds will have some abnormalities, but benchmarks help define what’s acceptable:

• Fewer than 10% of cows should have reddened or swollen teats.
• Fewer than 20% should have rough teat ends.
• Fewer than 2% should show cracks, chapping, or open lesions.

Exceeding those numbers means something in the milking routine, dip formulation, or environment needs attention.

From Routine Checks to Better Results

Teat scoring isn’t just a winter chore or a troubleshooting tool. It’s a year-round management habit that connects cow comfort, udder health, and milk quality. Each season brings new risks — and each offers new chances to fine-tune your milking routine.

A flashlight, a few minutes, and consistent recordkeeping can save hours of treatment time later. When it comes to protecting teat health, prevention is always more efficient than repair.

Information adapted from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) fact sheet “Dairy Cow Teat Condition Scoring,” updated May 2024, and supporting research by Hillerton et al.