Management and sanitary practices in ewe dairy farms and bulk milk somatic cell count

Bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) is a frequently used parameter to estimate the subclinical mastitis prevalence in a dairy herd, but it often differs considerably from the average SCC of all individual cows in milk. In this study, first the sampling variation was determined on 53 dairy farms with a BMSCC ranging from 56 000 to 441 000 cells/ml by collecting five samples on each farm of the same bulk tank. The average absolute sampling variation ranged from 1800 to 19 800 cells/ml. To what extent BMSCC represents all lactating cows was evaluated in another 246 farms by comparing BMSCC to the average herd SCC corrected for milk yield (CHSCC), after the difference was corrected for the sampling variation of BMSCC. On average BMSCC was 49 000 cells/ml lower than CHSCC, ranging from −10 000 cells/ml to 182 000 cells/ml, while the difference increased with an increasing BMSCC. Subsequently, management practices associated with existing differences were identified. Farms with a small (<20%) difference between BMSCC and CHSCC administered intramuscular antibiotics for the treatment of clinical mastitis more often, used the high SCC history when cows were dried off more frequently and had a higher number of treatments per clinical mastitis case compared with farms with a large (⩾20%) difference. Farms feeding high-SCC milk or milk with antibiotic residues to calves were 2·4-times more likely to have a large difference. Although sampling variation influences the differences between BMSCC and CHSCC, the remaining difference is still important and should be considered when BMSCC is used to review the average herd SCC and the subclinical mastitis prevalence.

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Haptoglobin and serum amyloid A in relation to the somatic cell count in quarter, cow composite and bulk tank milk samples

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029906002305 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 74 (2) ◽

pp. 198-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Maria Åkerstedt ◽

Karin Persson Waller ◽

Åse Sternesjö

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Serum Amyloid A ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Serum Amyloid ◽

Bulk Tank Milk ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Bulk Tank

Milk somatic cell count (SCC) is the gold standard in diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, and is also an important parameter in quality programmes of dairy cooperatives. As routine SCC analysis is usually restricted to central laboratories, much effort has been invested in the search for alternative biomarkers of mastitis and milk quality, including the presence in the milk of the acute phase proteins (APP), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA). The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between Hp, SAA and SCC in quarter, cow composite, and bulk tank milk samples. Cows (n=165), without any clinical signs of disease or abnormalities in the milk or udder, from three different dairy farms, were used. Cow composite milk samples from all cows delivering milk at the sampling occasion were taken once in each herd. In one of the farms, representative quarter milk samples (n=103) from 26 cows were also collected. In addition, bulk tank milk samples from 96 dairy farms were included in the study. Samples were analysed for Hp, SAA and SCC, and relationships between the parameters were evaluated at quarter, cow and tank milk levels using Chi-square analysis. Milk samples were categorized according to their SCC, and the presence, or no presence, of SAA and Hp, based on the detection limits of the screening methods (0·3 mg/l and 1·0 mg/l for SAA and Hp, respectively). Hp and SAA were found in milk at quarter, cow composite and bulk tank levels. A large proportion (53%) of the animals had detectable milk concentrations of APP, and SAA was detected more frequently, and at higher concentrations than Hp, regardless of sample type. SAA was detected in as many as 82% of the bulk tank milk samples. Significant relationships were found between Hp, SAA and SCC at quarter and cow composite milk levels, but only between SAA and SCC at bulk tank milk level. Detectable levels of APP were more common at high SCC.

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Profile of somatic cell count on dairy farms in the municipalities of Patos de Minas and Lagoa Grande in the state of Minas Gerais

Revista Brasileira de Higiene e Sanidade Animal ◽

10.5935/1981-2965.20140042 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Diogo Olímpio Chaves de Sousa ◽

Leoni Ferreira Martins ◽

Luis Oliveira Lopes ◽

Anna Monteiro Correia Lima

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

The State

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Effect of coagulase-negative staphylococci on somatic cell count in Dutch dairy herds

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029910000191 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 77 (3) ◽

pp. 318-324 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Otlis Sampimon ◽

Bart HP van den Borne ◽

Inge Santman-Berends ◽

Herman W Barkema ◽

Theo Lam

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Health Management ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Subclinical Mastitis ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Intramammary Infections ◽

Milk Samples

The effect was quantified of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) intramammary infections on quarter- and cow-level somatic cell count (SCC) and on bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) in different BMSCC cohorts in Dutch dairy herds. Two datasets were used for this purpose. In the first dataset, on 49 randomly selected dairy farms a total of 4220 quarter milk samples of 1072 cows were collected of all cows and heifers with a test-day SCC ⩾250 000 and ⩾150 000 cells/ml, respectively, and of 25% of cows and heifers below these thresholds. In the second dataset, on 39 selected dairy farms a total of 8329 quarter milk samples of 2115 cows were collected of all cows with a test-day SCC ⩾250 000 cells/ml following two consecutive SCC <250 000 cells/ml, and of heifers using the same SCC criteria but with a threshold of 150 000 cells/ml. These cows and heifers were defined as new high SCC. In both datasets, CNS was the most frequently isolated pathogen, 11% in the first dataset and 12% in the second dataset. In both datasets, quarters with CNS IMI had a lower SCC than quarters infected with major pathogens, and a higher SCC than culture-negative quarters. The same was found for SCC at cow level. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were more often found in quarters with SCC ⩾200 000 cells/ml in dairy farms with a BMSCC <150 000 cells/ml compared with dairy farms with a higher BMSCC. Prevalence of CNS in cows and heifers with a high SCC was higher in dairy farms with a BMSCC <150 000 cells/ml compared with dairy farms with a medium or high BMSCC: 30, 19 and 18%, respectively. This indicates that CNS IMI as a cause of subclinical mastitis is relatively more important in dairy farms with a low BMSCC and may become a point of attention in udder health management on that type of farm.

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Exploring the characteristics and dynamics of Ontario dairy herds experiencing increases in bulk milk somatic cell count during the summer

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2014-8675 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 98 (6) ◽

pp. 3741-3753 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

D.A. Shock ◽

S.J. LeBlanc ◽

K.E. Leslie ◽

K. Hand ◽

M.A. Godkin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Dairy Herds ◽

Bulk Milk

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Influence of elevated somatic cell count on casein distribution and cheese-making

Journal of Dairy Research ◽

10.1017/s0022029900021282 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 393-400 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Ali E. Ali ◽

Anthony T. Andrews ◽

Gordon C. Cheeseman

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Somatic Cell Count ◽

Cheese Making ◽

Commercial Practice ◽

Cell Counts ◽

Bulk Milk ◽

Soluble Phase ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

SummaryThe effects of increased somatic cell count, whether caused by infection or by experimental infusion of bacterial endotoxin, on the distribution in milk of caseins between the micellar and soluble forms were investigated. The relationship of somatic cell count to some cheese-making parameters was also studied. With quite modestly elevated cell counts (2–3 × 106/ml) increases of up to 37% in total casein in the soluble phase were observed, most of which was contributed by β-casein, while κ- and αs1-caseins increased only slightly. With storage at 4°C, the concentrations of all the caseins, Ca and phosphate in the soluble phase increased substantially during the first 48 h, but this was followed by a slight decline on further storage. Rennet clotting time, losses of fat in whey, curd moisture, and losses in curd yield and rigidity were all greater the higher the somatic count. Clear differences were detectable in these parameters between milks of very low cell count (e.g. 5 × 104 cells/ml) and milks with counts more typical of those found in bulk supplies (e.g. about 5 × 105 cells/ml). If these findings can be reproduced in commercial practice even a modest reduction in bulk milk somatic cell counts might be expected to bring definite benefits.

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