Economic and production impacts
Mastitis is one of the most important diseases affecting ewes in the UK. It is estimated to cost the Texel sheep industry alone over £120 million per year; the cost to the entire UK sheep industry is therefore well above this figure.
Financial losses are caused by ewe and lamb deaths, reduced lamb growth rates, unplanned culling of affected ewes and replacement costs and time spent treating ewes with mastitis and rearing lambs artificially.
A ewe that has had clinical mastitis might recover, but often no longer produces milk from the affected half. Recovered ewes are also more likely to have another case of mastitis. As a result, ewes that have had mastitis are often culled.
Image sourced from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/money-saving-tips/11257298/12-new-ways-to-save-money-in-2015.html