The relationship between herd bulk milk composition and cell count in commercial dairy herds

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Abstract
About 445 herds were monitored for 2 yr to evaluate the benefits of applying a mastitis control routine. On a between-herd basis a relationship was demonstrated between bulk milk composition and cell count (P < 0.001); total solids, SNF [solids not fat] and fat concentration decreased as cell count increased in the milk. The corresponding relationships were very similar in the 2 yr. In addition to receiving other benefits of mastitis control reported earlier, dairy herds which maintain low bulk milk cell counts through the control of mastitis will in general receive additional benefits from producing milk of high total solids content.