Rescue & Adoptions

Healthcare with Heart Stories

Cow Checks With Teresa

With genetic manipulation and intensive production technologies, it is common for modern dairy cows to produce 100 pounds of milk a day — ten times more than they would produce in nature. The cows' bodies are under constant stress and they are at risk for numerous health problems. Approximately half of the country's dairy cows suffer from mastitis, a bacterial infection of their udders. Due to overmilking, cows' udders develop teat sores. The combination of open sores, weak and overworked bodies, and unsanitary conditions and milking methods leads to a shockingly high incidence of infection, including mastitis — an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by infection.

Mastitis is a life-threatening disease if untreated, so Farm Sanctuary caregivers are vigilant about udder checks on all our female cows. Teresa the cow, trusting her loving caregiver, New York Shelter Director Susie Coston, patiently waits for her sweet grain treat after the checks are completed.