NORMAL MILK SOMATIC CELL COUNTS

1 May 1972

journal article
Published by International Association for Food Protection in Journal of Milk and Food Technology

Vol. 35 (5) , 261-263
https://doi.org/10.4315/0022-2747-35.5.261

Abstract

Samples were collected during various stages of lactation from cows in commercial dairy herds in which the infection status was known. The average cell count of all cows uninfected at the time of sampling was 214,000/ml. For each quarter infected there was an approximate doubling of cell counts of the composite milk. Uninfected cows at the time of sampling had a low cell count and showed little upward trend through the first five lactations. Cell counts from these cows tended to be highest in the first two weeks post calving, lowest in mid-lactation, and intermediate at drying off. Cows with lactations of more than 305 days had higher cell counts probably because of undetected new infections. Cell levels from cows which were uninfected for three years showed no significant change (P < .05) caused by lactation age or stage.

Keywords

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