Projects of the One Health Region Vorpommern

MC Predict

Detecting Mastitis Earlier & Reducing Antibiotic Use

Prevention in the One Health Context

Mastitis is one of the most common reasons for antibiotic use in dairy farming — and this is exactly where MC-PREDICT comes in.

The project pursues a clear goal: to identify mastitis risks earlier, take more targeted action, and avoid the use of antibiotics where they are not necessary.

From Individual Udder Quarters to Better Decisions

In practice, udder health is usually assessed using average values from the total milk produced by all four udder quarters. But mastitis often develops gradually — and frequently begins in just a single udder quarter. These early warning signs are often lost in the overall average.

🔎 That is why MC-PREDICT takes a closer look:
By analyzing quarter milk somatic cell counts, cows can be identified in which a mastitis risk is emerging — before treatment becomes necessary.

Early Lactation: A Critical Phase

Especially during early lactation, it becomes clear how stable a cow’s udder health will remain. In this sensitive phase, the project specifically collects and analyzes milk samples from individual udder quarters. Samples showing abnormalities are examined further to better understand mastitis pathogens and patterns of colonization.

The investigations take place under real-world conditions in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The farms are not simply test environments, but active practice partners whose experience directly contributes to the further development of the methods.

Transfer Instead of Theory

MC-PREDICT is deliberately designed as a transfer project. The goal is not to develop a new diagnostic method for specialized laboratories, but a practical approach that works in the everyday reality of dairy farms.

Based on the project findings, a concrete action framework is being developed to support farms in

… detecting mastitis at an early stage, …

… managing individual animals in a more targeted way, …

… reducing cases of mastitis...

… and using antibiotics only when they are truly necessary.

At the same time, the knowledge gained through the project is being used to prepare further strategies against mastitis pathogens — including decolonization and vaccination approaches.

One Health Put into Practice in the Region

Less mastitis means fewer antibiotics, fewer resistant pathogens, and greater safety throughout the entire value chain — from animals and the environment to people. MC-PREDICT demonstrates how One Health can be put into practice in the Vorpommern region: practical, scientifically grounded, and developed in close dialogue with agriculture.