Management factors associated with the incidence of clinical mastitis over the non-lactation period and bulk tank somatic cell count during the subsequent lactation

Mastitis is a major health problem of the udder in dairy sheep breeds. For diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used. The presence of pathogens in the udder causes the increase of leukocytes and thus SCC in milk. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of pathogens in the milk of ewes and the possible relationship with SCC. The changes of leukocytes subpopulation in milk samples with high SCC were evaluated as well. The experiment was carried out on a dairy farm with the Lacaune breed. This study was conducted on 45 ewes (98 milk samples) without signs of clinical mastitis. Based on somatic cell count, samples were divided to five SCC groups: SCC1 < 200 000 cells/ml (45 milk samples); 200 000 ≤ SCC2 < 400 000 cells/ml (10 milk samples); 400 000 ≤ SCC3 < 600 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); 600 000 ≤ SCC4 < 1 000 000 cells/ml (six milk samples); SCC5 ≥ 1 000 000 cells/ml (31 milk samples). No pathogens were observed in the majority of milk samples (60.20%). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the most commonly isolated pathogens from the milk of ewes (86.11%). Staphylococcus epidermidis had the highest incidence from CNS (35.48%). In the SCC5 group, up to 79.31% of bacteriological samples were positive. The percentage of leukocytes significantly increased (P < 0.001) in the samples with higher SCC (≥ 200 × 10<sup>3</sup> cells/ml) in comparison to the group SCC1. Also, the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) was significantly higher with increasing SCC (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the presented results showed that the high SCC was caused by the presence of the pathogen in milk. Thus SCC < 200 000 cells/ml and leukocyte subpopulation, especially PMNs, could be considered as important tools in udder health programs applied in dairy ewes.

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Management Factors Influencing Milk Somatic Cell Count and Udder Infection Rate in Smallholder Dairy Cow Herds in Southern Vietnam

Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances ◽

10.3923/javaa.2011.847.852 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 847-852 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Vo Lam ◽

Karin Ostensson ◽

Kerstin Svennerste ◽

Lennart Norell ◽

Ewa Wredle

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Infection Rate ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Southern Vietnam ◽

Factors Influencing ◽

Management Factors ◽

Smallholder Dairy

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Relationship Among NAGase Enzyme Activity, CMT Score and Somatic Cell Count in Milk of Crossbred Dairy Cows with Sub-Clinical Mastitis in North-Western Province of Sri Lanka

Tropical Agricultural Research ◽

10.4038/tar.v31i4.8418 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 26

Author(s):

R. Rahularaj ◽

R. M. C. Deshapriya ◽

R. M. S. B. K. Ranasinghe

Keyword(s):

Enzyme Activity ◽

Sri Lanka ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Clinical Mastitis ◽

Western Province ◽

North Western

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Effects of season, milking routine and cow cleanliness on bacterial and somatic cell counts of bulk tank milk

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029911000598 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 436-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Maddalena Zucali ◽

Luciana Bava ◽

Alberto Tamburini ◽

Milena Brasca ◽

Laura Vanoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Bacterial Count ◽

Cold Season ◽

Plate Count ◽

Bulk Tank Milk ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Bulk Tank

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of season, cow cleanliness and milking routine on bacterial and somatic cell counts of bulk tank milk. A total of 22 dairy farms in Lombardy (Italy) were visited three times in a year in different seasons. During each visit, samples of bulk tank milk were taken for bacterial and somatic cell counts; swabs from the teat surface of a group of cows were collected after teat cleaning and before milking. Cow cleanliness was assessed by scoring udder, flanks and legs of all milking cows using a 4-point scale system. Season affected cow cleanliness with a significantly higher percentage of non-clean (NC) cows during Cold compared with Mild season. Standard plate count (SPC), laboratory pasteurization count (LPC), coliform count (CC) and somatic cell count, expressed as linear score (LS), in milk significantly increased in Hot compared with Cold season. Coagulase-positive staphylococci on teat swabs showed higher counts in Cold season in comparison with the other ones. The effect of cow cleanliness was significant for SPC, psychrotrophic bacterial count (PBC), CC and Escherichia coli in bulk tank milk. Somatic cell count showed a relationship with udder hygiene score. Milking operation routine strongly affected bacterial counts and LS of bulk tank milk: farms that accomplished a comprehensive milking scheme including two or more operations among forestripping, pre-dipping and post-dipping had lower teat contamination and lower milk SPC, PBC, LPC, CC and LS than farms that did not carry out any operation.

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