Scientists teaching robots to more accurately detect dairy disease Lincoln University computer scientists have been part of modelling a way to better control and manage a disease which costs New Zealand dairy farmers $280 million a year. Dairy cattle mastitis is considered as one of the most notable and costly diseases in the dairy industry worldwide. It severely affects dairy cattle, resulting in costly treatment and causing a huge decrease in milk produced from sick cows. Accurate mastitis detection helps cut treatment costs, control the disease, retain milk production levels and maintain milk quality grade. The total mastitis cost to dairying includes the drop in milk production, low-grade milk quality, cattle treatment cost and other costs.