Effect of estrus synchronization on daily somatic cell count variation in goats according to lactation number and udder health status

Abstract Subclinical mastitis in dairy cows is a big economic loss for farmers. The monitoring of subclinical mastitis is usually performed through Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in farm but there is the need of new diagnostic systems able to quickly identify cows affected by subclinical infections of the udder. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential application of thermographic imaging compared to SCC and bacteriological culture for infection detection in cow affected by subclinical mastitis and possibly to discriminate between different pathogens. In this study we evaluated the udder health status of 98 Holstein Friesian dairy cows with high SCC in 4 farms. From each cow a sample of milk was collected from all the functional quarters and submitted to bacteriological culture, SCC and Mycoplasma spp. culture. A thermographic image was taken from each functional udder quarter and nipple. Pearson’s correlations and Analysis of Variance were performed in order to evaluate the different diagnostic techniques. The most frequent pathogen isolated was Staphylococcus aureus followed by Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS), Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae and others. The Somatic Cell Score (SCS) was able to discriminate (p<0.05) cows positive for a pathogen from cows negative at the bacteriological culture except for cows with infection caused by CNS. Infrared thermography was correlated to SCS (p<0.05) but was not able to discriminate between positive and negative cows. Thermographic imaging seems to be promising in evaluating the inflammation status of cows affected by subclinical mastitis but seems to have a poor diagnostic value.

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Combining total and differential somatic cell count to better assess the association of udder health status with milk yield, composition and coagulation properties in cattle

Italian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1080/1828051x.2020.1784804 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 697-703 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tania Bobbo ◽

Mauro Penasa ◽

Martino Cassandro

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Milk Yield ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Udder Health

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Changes in somatic cell count of goat milk associated with udder health status

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies ◽

10.22271/j.ento.2020.v8.i5a.7499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 01-03

Author(s):

MC Lallianchhunga ◽

M Ayub Ali ◽

K Lalrintluanga ◽

Lallawmzuali Ralte ◽

H Lalrinkima

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Goat Milk ◽

Udder Health

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Short communication: The main factors affecting somatic cell count in organic dairy farming

Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.5424/sjar/2017154-11769 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. e06SC02

Author(s):

Inmaculada Orjales ◽

Marta Lopez-Alonso ◽

Marta Miranda ◽

Ruth Rodríguez-Bermúdez ◽

Francisco Rey-Crespo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Milk Production ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Management Practices ◽

Northern Spain ◽

Udder Health ◽

Dry Cow Therapy ◽

Teat Dipping

Preventive management practices are essential for maintaining acceptable udder health status, especially in organic farming, in which the use of antimicrobials is restricted. The contribution of the following factors to somatic cell count (SCC) was assessed in 788 cows from 15 organically reared herds in northern Spain: milk production, lactation number, treatments applied, selective dry cow therapy and teat dipping routines. The data were examined by linear logistic regression. Lactation number was the main factor affecting logSCC (β= 0.339, p<0.001) followed in order of importance by milk production (β= -0.205, p<0.001), use of alternative treatments (β=0.153, p<0.001), selective dry cow therapy (β=0.120, p=0.005) and teat dipping routines (β=-0.076, p=0.028). However, the model only explained 17.0% of the total variation in SCC. This variable depends on factors other than those considered here, amongst which udder infection is probably one of the most important. Nonetheless, the study findings enabled us to determine the contribution of the main management factors that should be taken into account to improve udder health status on organic farms.

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The effects of quarter-individual milking in conventional milking parlours on the somatic cell count and udder health of dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029912000611 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 80 (1) ◽

pp. 36-44 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anika B Müller ◽

Sandra Rose-Meierhöfer ◽

Christian Ammon ◽

Reiner Brunsch

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Least Square ◽

Trial Period ◽

Vacuum Level ◽

Udder Health ◽

Air Inlet

The objective of this study was to examine the quarter health status of quarter-individually and conventionally milked cows. The MultiLactor®, a quarter-individual milking system (MULTI), has single guided tubes which provide milking on the quarter level with a low system vacuum level (37 kPa), sequential pulsation and periodic air inlet. The conventional milking system (CON) was equipped with a milking cluster where the system vacuum level was adjusted to 40 kPa. A total of 84 German Holstein cows, randomly divided into two groups, were included in the study. Over a period of 32 trial weeks, quarter foremilk samples were taken every week to determine somatic cell count (SCC). Bacteriological examinations and udder palpation were conducted at three different times. During the trial period, median SCC of quarter foremilk samples in both groups did not exceed the threshold value of 100 000 cells/ml. The results of the F test showed that the milking system (P = 0·0587) and days in milk (DIM) (P = 0·8066) had no significant effects on the quarter health status. On the other hand, lactation (P = 0·0396), quarter health status in the previous week (P < 0·0001) and trial week (P = 0·0061) affected quarter health status significantly. The estimated probabilities of the occurrence of a suspicious quarter (SCC > 100 000 cells/ml) were 19·97% (CON) and 31·72% (MULTI). However, the test of differences in the Least Square Means (LSM) showed no significant differences (P = 0·0585) between CON and MULTI. The estimated probability of quarters becoming suspicious during the first lactation was 12·51% for both groups. With an increasing number of lactation, the probability of a quarter becoming suspicious clearly increased (2nd lactation: 32·73% and 3rd lactation: 36·19%). The results also showed that the percentage of quarters with bacteriological findings revealed a stronger increase over time for MULTI than for CON.

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Associations between different udder health groups defined based on a combination of total and differential somatic cell count and the future udder health status of dairy cows

Preventive Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105374 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 105374

Author(s):

Daniel Schwarz ◽

Sonja Kleinhans ◽

Gesine Reimann ◽

Peter Stückler ◽

Franz Reith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Udder Health ◽

The Future

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Milk somatic cell count-derived traits as new indicators to monitor udder health in dairy buffaloes

Italian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1080/1828051x.2021.1899856 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 548-558

Author(s):

Angela Costa ◽

Massimo De Marchi ◽

Gianluca Neglia ◽

Giuseppe Campanile ◽

Mauro Penasa

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Udder Health

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Prediction of total quarter milk somatic cell counts based on foremilk sampling

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029909004166 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 326-330 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Olga Wellnitz ◽

Marcus G Doherr ◽

Marta Woloszyn ◽

Rupert M Bruckmaier

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Practical Reasons ◽

Udder Health ◽

Somatic Cell Counts ◽

Cell Numbers ◽

Cell Counts

Determination of somatic cell count (SCC) is used worldwide in dairy practice to describe the hygienic status of the milk and the udder health of cows. When SCC is tested on a quarter level to detect single quarters with high SCC levels of cows for practical reasons, mostly foremilk samples after prestimulation (i.e. cleaning of the udder) are used. However, SCC is usually different in different milk fractions. Therefore, the goal of this study was the investigation of the use of foremilk samples for the estimation of total quarter SCC. A total of 378 milkings in 19 dairy cows were performed with a special milking device to drain quarter milk separately. Foremilk samples were taken after udder stimulation and before cluster attachment. SCC was measured in foremilk samples and in total quarter milk. Total quarter milk SCC could not be predicted precisely from foremilk SCC measurements. At relatively high foremilk SCC levels (>300×103 cells/ml) foremilk SCC were higher than total quarter milk. At around (50–300)×103 cells/ml foremilk and total quarter SCC did not differ considerably. Most interestingly, if foremilk SCC was lower than 50×103 cells/ml the total quarter SCC was higher than foremilk SCC. In addition, individual cows showed dramatic variations in foremilk SCC that were not very well related to total quarter milk SCC. In conclusion, foremilk samples are useful to detect high quarter milk SCC to recognize possibly infected quarters, only if precise cell counts are not required. However, foremilk samples can be deceptive if very low cell numbers are to be detected.

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