When periods with many cases of clinical mastitis occur on dairy farms, veterinary practitioners are not only expected to treat these cases successfully, but also to provide managementrelated recommendations that reduce the mastitis incidence on a sustained basis. In order to formulate effective recommendations for herd health management, the problem must be analysed systematically. Some fundamental questions must be answered accordingly, e.g. the kind of pathogens involved and whether the acute clinical cases are due to new infections resp. diseases, or have occurred because many subclinical cases have become clinical. With this data at hand, the process of finding solutions will become much easier. Reducing the risks recognized as being most significant for the development of the problem will ensure the best possible reduction of new infections and clinical exacerbations.