Somatic Cells Count

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Somatic cells in milk are normal. They are components of udder tissue and the infection defense system. The somatic cell count increases normally with

  • increasing stage of lactation
  • the number of lactations
  • Reduction in the amount of milk

The cell count in milk is

  • Measure of udder health
  • Quality criterion for the usability of milk
  • a criterion for the milk price

The basis for the evaluation of somatic cell counts (SCC) are:

  • the results of the MRec and
  • the results of the milk quality from the collected milk

Causes of high cell counts are:

  • Milking hygiene, milking technology,
  • metabolic load, infections,
  • lack of control of dry standers

The aim is to have an udder-healthy HERDEplus whose cell content is less than 250 thousand in at least 80% of the animals. cells and less than 4% of cows are “millionaires”.

The development of cell numbers in the population is particularly noteworthy. The analysis is based on MRec results.