Mastitis, an inflammatory disease caused by the invasion of various pathogenic microorganisms into mammary gland tissue, is a core health issue plaguing the global dairy industry. The consequences of this disease are manifold. In addition to directly compromising the health and welfare of dairy cows, it also precipitates a substantial decline in lactation function, a precipitous drop in raw milk production, and alterations in milk composition (e.g., increased somatic cell counts and imbalanced ratios of milk protein to fat). These changes result in a marked degradation of milk quality and safety, and in turn, engender significant economic losses for the livestock industry. Therefore, the establishment and implementation of a comprehensive prevention and control system is a key strategy to effectively curb the occurrence of mastitis, reduce its incidence rate, and minimise economic losses. This review systematically explores the complex etiological factors and pathogenic mechanisms of mastitis in dairy cows, and summarises various diagnostic methods, including milk apparent indicators monitoring, pathogen detection, physiological parameter monitoring, omics technologies, and emerging technologies. Furthermore, it undertakes an analysis of treatment protocols for mastitis in dairy cows, with a particular emphasis on the significance of rational antibiotic use and alternative therapies. Moreover, it delineates preventive measures encompassing both environmental and hygiene management, and dairy cow health management. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive and scientific theoretical basis and practical guidance for dairy farming practices. This will help to improve the health of dairy cows, ensure a stable supply of high-quality dairy products, and promote the sustainable and healthy development of the dairy farming industry.

PiRNAs are a subclass of non-coding RNAs, 26–31 nucleotides (nt) in length, that form regulatory complexes through their interaction with PIWI proteins. Studies in model organisms have demonstrated that piRNAs play crucial roles in tissue development and in predicting disease outcomes, positioning them as promising targets for developmental regulation and therapeutic intervention. In contrast, research on piRNAs in animal husbandry is still in its early stages and has not received sufficient attention. Despite this, the few studies available in livestock research have revealed that piRNAs serve as key regulators of reproductive development, underscoring their significant regulatory potential in farm animals and justifying further investigation. Accordingly, this review uses the bovine mammary gland as an exemplary case to summarize the progress in piRNA research related to mammary development and disease. The role of piRNAs in regulating breast cancer stem cell proliferation and modulating inflammatory progression is a highly active area of research. We hypothesize that piRNAs may play a potential role in regulating both mammary gland development and mastitis, making them promising targets for enhancing mammary development and overall health in dairy cattle and providing a theoretical foundation for further piRNA applications in animal husbandry.

PiRNAs, a specialized subclass of ncRNAs characterized by their 26–31 nucleotides (nt) length, function through specific interactions with PIWI proteins to form dynamic regulatory complexes that modulate gene expression. As a significant constituent of ncRNAs, piRNAs exhibit distinctive biogenesis mechanisms and regulatory features that underscore their unique functional roles. Current research on piRNAs is predominantly centered on transposons silencing, reproductive development, and the regulation of disease processes. Research on piRNAs in livestock animals remains in its infancy, with only preliminary studies investigating their roles in the reproductive development of pigs, cows, and sheep. It is hypothesized that piRNAs may play an important role in regulating mammary gland development and inflammation in dairy cows, owing to their regulatory properties and the established roles of other ncRNAs in this process. In this review, we present recent advances in the study of piRNAs relating to mammary cancer and inflammation. Using the dairy cow mammary gland as a case study, we examine the potential role of piRNAs in mammary gland development and mastitis regulation at both the regulatory and molecular levels. This review provides a theoretical foundation for the further elucidation of piRNA roles in mammary gland development and related diseases in livestock animals. Additionally, piRNAs may reveal novel regulatory pathways that can enhance livestock production efficiency.