C4-Lanca»tar Farming, Saturday, January 25,1986
By Dr. George F. W. Haenlein,
Extension Dairy Specialist
University of Delaware
NEWARK, DE Our main
concern and emphania in dairy
cattle management has shifted in
recent years from mastitis
treatment to somatic cell count
testing (SCC) for good reasons.
SCC testing makes it possible to
detect subclinical mastitis before
it becomes mastitis. For every cow
with visible mastitis, there are at
least three with subclinical
mastitis. The need to focus on SCC
as an indicator of the status of
subclinical mastitis is obvious.
As a result, in recent years DHIA
programs have promoted wide
participation in SCC testing. In
Delaware, we now have almost 100
percent participation in SCC.
Somatic cells are primarily
leucocytes or white blood cells
which increase in number to fight
infections when they occur within
the udder. In subclinical mastitis
there are usually no visible signs of
disease nor of abnormal condition
of the milk.
However, the infection causes
decreased milk secretion by the
cow and lost milk income for the
farmer. Only elevated SCO can
identify the problem, and the
problem cow.
Beginning on July 1, 1906, milk
marketing rules are going to be
tougher for dairy producers by 33
percent. Allowable maximum
somatic cell levels in milk sold by
farmers will be lowered from
1,500,000 to 1,000,000 SCC per
milliliter.
This will affect producers
regardless of whether or not they
are on DHIA and participate in
SCC testing. Fortunately, DHIA’s
SCC program enables dairymen tp
monitor each cow every month,
besides checking on milk tank
levels.
Electronic cell counting
machines analyze the same milk
sample which is tested for fat
and/or protein contents and the
usual sample preservative,
potassium dichromate, does not
interfere with the SCC. The cost
Jon
~d'
Heads'^
• 190 MPH Air Stream Available
• Rotating Head (3 Pt. Hitch or Pull-Type)
Sprays With The Wind
• Low Volume Efficiency
Reduces Chemical & Fuel
Cost
SMALL CASH OIITMY
Consider Our 3 Yr. Leasing
Program At Less Than 12%
On Any Ag Tec Sprayer
See The Ag Tec On
Display At The Vegetable
Show, Convention Center,
Hershey, PA
Jan. 28,29,30
Lancaster County's Only Dealer Specializing In
Sprayer Sales & Service
LESTER A. SINGER
96 N. Ronka Rd. * Ronks, PA 17572
(717>.«87-6712f dr 295-2308
Mon.-Fr. 8 to 5; Sat. 8 to 12
Somatic cell count testing benefits widespread
per cow per month to screen for
SCC varies among state DHIA
programs. It is usually between 10
cents and 20 cents in addition to, or
as part of, the fat-protein tests.
Sopmatic cell count is expressed
in I,ooos of cells or in a so-called
linear score from 0 to 10. Healthy
cows have less than 100,000 cells
per milliliter of milk or scores of 0,
1,2 or 3. These scores stand for cell
ranges of less than 18,000; 19,000 to
35,000; and 36,000 to 71,000 cells,
respectively.
With a score of 3 (72,000 to 141,000
cells) cows suffer an average daily
depression in production of I.S
pounds of milk. Scores of 4,5,6 and
7 mean ranges from 142,000;
284,000 ; 566,000; and 1,131,000 to
2,262,000, respectively. Every
score point above 3 means an
additional 1.5 pounds of milk loss
per cow per day, up to 7.5 pounds
lost at 7, with even greater losses
at scores above 7.
At current milk prices, the daily
1.5 pound yield difference per cow
per month will easily pay for the
cost of the monthly SCC testing.
Dairy farmers who participate
in the DHIA screening program
receive monthly reports on SCC
tests on each cow and usually up to
9 previous months for comparison.
Chronic cases are thus easily
noticed for segregation, special
treatment or culling.
Early and late stages of lactation
often normally produce high
somatic cell counts in cow milk. To
keep the tank SCC test low, these
animals can be temporarily
separated from those that provide
milk for sale.
As a producer, you have several
management options for reducing
SCC levels. Equipment and labor
improvements are obviously a
ise
Com,
■ry,
\bles-
AUTHORIZED FETTER DISTRIBUTOR
PH: 717-«36-3322
717-295-1729
2998 West Newport Rd
Ronks, PA 17572
2Vi miles East of Leola
Along Rt. 772
high priority on most farms.
Today’s more sophisticated
milking equipment is reducing one
of the main labor-related causes of
elevated cell counts. At the
Delaware Agricultural Ex
periment Station, we’ve found that
our new electronic milking
machines—which include
automatic take-off-reduce SCC in
our dairy herd because they
eliminate overmilking.
New research evidence also
indicates that we should pay more
attention to nutrition as a means of
holding down udder infections and
SCC. Dry cows daily fed extra
vitamin E and selenium (one 50
GIGANTIC
SELECTION
In
Lancaster
Farming's
CLASSIFIEDS
READ
LANCASTER FARMING
FOR COMPLETE
AND UP-TO-DATE
MARKET REPORTS
2 & 3 Cylinder In Stock
For Immediate Delivery
• Hand Crank Available
• 11%T040H.P.
All Servicing Done* From One
Side Of Engine
Need A Larger Dairy Diesel?
Gm USA m CHECK OUR PRICES
DIESELS OUR SPECIALTY
Let Us Know Your Service Problems
HOOVER DIESEL
SERVICE
Mam Local
PH: 717-786-2173
RO3, Box 91A
Quarry ville. PA 17566
2 miles West of
Georgetown on Furnace
Rd.
DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED
Introducing
The New
MODEL 600
Quitt One
Air-Cooled
Model
P6OO
inch Location
milligram injection) three weeks
before calving had leas SCC and
mastitis when milking again.
Cows fed daily supplemental
vitamin A during the dry period
had increased cell counts, but
those receiving additional beta
carotene (300 milligrams) had
significantly lower SCC levels
when milking again. Studies also
show that daily supplementation of
dietary zinc in the form of zinc
oxide or zinc methionine during the
entire lactation markedly reduced
SCC.
It appears prudent to calculate
feed rations for today’s high
milking cows not only for protein,
Replace Your
MANURE TANK Truck-Mount or Trailer-Mount
Tank Sizes (Gal
• 1200 • 1800 • 2400 • 3000 • 3600 • 5000
* • Heat Treated • All Chain Has 10 Yr. Warranty
HOOK AND EYE LINKS
TiS-k
This Chain Will Replace Most Brands Of Chain
24 Hrs. - 7 Days A Week - Refrigeration Service
Installation, Sales And Service
IMY®C®OBK
(Formerly Shenk’s Farm Service)
505 E. Woods Drive Lititz, PA 17543
(717) 626-1151 or 626-5996
PAUL B.
MtnjDtjffDDMOili
: V
PAUL B. ZIMMERMAN, INC.
Call or Write For
Add (tonal Information
And Your Nearest Dealer
energy, fiber, calcium and
phosphorus but for certain
vitamins and trace minerals as
well to assure against deficiencies
that can be reflected in elevated
SCC levels.
The availability of monthly SCC
testing programs on individual
cows, the direct link between SCC
scores and losses in daily milk
sales and payment, and the bonus
programs for low SCC contents in
milk offered by milk marketing
organizations mean producers can
increase their net income by
focusing close attention on SCC
testing. In other words, sommatic
cell count testing pays.
Available:
295 Woodturner Rd
Lititz, PA 17543
1 Mile West of Ephrata
Phone. 717-738-1121