Danish researchers trial laser therapy to treat mastitis in cows without antibiotics

DENMARK – A groundbreaking collaboration between Aarhus University and Danish company Neeo Aps is exploring laser therapy as a potential alternative to antibiotics for treating mastitis in dairy cows, a common and costly condition affecting milk production and quality. 

The research, supported by Denmark’s Green Development and Demonstration Program (GUDP), could significantly reduce antibiotic use and food waste in the dairy industry.

Mastitis, an inflammation of the udder tissue, is a major issue for dairy farmers worldwide. It compromises milk yield and quality and often requires antibiotic treatment. 

However, milk from cows under antibiotic treatment must be discarded, leading to substantial losses for producers and contributing to global food waste. There are also growing concerns about antibiotic resistance, a mounting threat to both animal and human health.

The new project, now underway, seeks to determine whether laser therapy can match the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating the disease while preserving milk quality and animal welfare.

A human case inspires a veterinary solution

The idea behind the project emerged from a real-life story. A woman suffering from a stubborn breast infection found relief after undergoing laser therapy when antibiotics failed. 

Her husband, a dairy farmer, remarked, “If only it were as easy to cure mastitis in my cows.” That observation laid the foundation for the current initiative and the development of a new veterinary tool at Neeo Aps.

While preliminary studies have hinted at the promise of laser therapy, robust scientific evidence is lacking,  especially in large-scale dairy operations. This new effort seeks to fill that gap with both controlled experiments and field trials.

Developing cow-friendly laser equipment

A key component of the project is redesigning the laser equipment initially created for human use. The human-focused device is unsuitable for bovine anatomy and lacks the scalability needed for wide adoption on farms. 

Neeo Aps is now working to tailor the technology specifically for treating cow udders, ensuring that it is effective, practical, and ready for mass production.

Concurrently, researchers at Aarhus University are leading the evaluation of laser therapy’s effectiveness. The study begins with a controlled experiment where researchers will induce mild, short-term mastitis in cows using LPS, a substance derived from gram-negative bacteria that mimics inflammation. 

One group will receive laser therapy, while another will be treated with an inactive red light. The scientists will track the cows’ health, milk yield, and quality to gauge the therapy’s real impact.

Field trials in commercial herds

In the project’s second phase, laser therapy will be tested in actual farm environments. This on-farm trial will compare the laser treatment directly against standard antibiotic interventions across multiple commercial herds.

“If laser therapy proves effective, it will benefit the animals, the farmers, and society,” said Vivi Mørkøre Thorup, Associate Professor at Aarhus University and leader of the project’s on-farm research package. 

“With this project, we have a unique opportunity to test an alternative treatment for mastitis. In the future, it could potentially reduce the use of antibiotics in milk production. It also has the positive effect of reducing food waste because less milk will be discarded.”

Beyond its direct benefits, the successful adoption of laser therapy could align Danish dairy farming more closely with consumer demands for sustainable, high-welfare food products. 

As antibiotic resistance and food waste gain international attention, innovations like this one could position Denmark as a leader in responsible livestock production.

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