What Are Cow Udders?

Cow udders are the main source of commercial dairy milk. Milk is extracted from the udders for the care of calves as well as the mass production of milk that is distributed for human consumption. Proper care and hygiene of cow udders helps to keep them free of infections and mastitis inflammation.

  1. Definition

    • An udder is an organ of the female cow that is a mass of mammary glands that hangs beneath the cow. It is where milk is produced and extracted for feeding calves and for commercial production.

    Characteristics

    • Cow udders are large sac-like masses that are very visible on the underside of cows. Teats are on the end of the udders and are where the milk is extracted from. The udders are generally the skin tone color of the cow, and sometimes the udders have spot markings.

    Scores

    • The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) has created an udder scoring system to rate how good cow's udders are for the extraction and production of milk. Udders are rated on a 1 to 10 number system, with 10 being the most ideal udder and 1 being the lowest on the scale. According to the system, the tighter the udder is to the cow's body, the higher the udder will score.

    Health

    • Bacteria can cause a mastitis infections in cow udders, which causes udder teats and milk to be contaminated. Cleaning the teats and infusing antibiotics into the teat can help to keep milk flowing without infections occurring. Cows should also be given proper nutrition and kept free of locational stresses to help prevent infections in the udders and teats.