Cell Content of Goat Milk: California Mastitis Test, Coulter Counter, and Fossomatic for Predicting Half Infection

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Abstract
The mean cell count of goat milk collected in early and midlactation from udder halves free of infection was 1404 .times. 103 cells/ml and 614 .times. 103 cells/ml estimated by Coulter Counter and Fossomatic. Arithmetic means of cell count by Fossomatic method for samples within California Mastitis Test scores were similar to results from cow milk. Results by the 3 methods were closely correlated. Means of cell counts were 2858 .times. 103 cells/ml and 1293 .times. 103 cells/ml by Coulter Counter and Fossomatic methods for udder halves harboring coagulase-negative staphylococci and 8946 .times. 103 cells/ml and 4804 .times. 103 cells/ml for halves infected by major pathogens. Of the thresholds examined, 1000 .times. 103 cells/ml was most satisfactory for both Coulter Counter and Fossomatic methods, because it detected about 80% of major infections and gave an acceptable proportion of errors.