BY MARTHA J. GEHRINGER
LANCASTER A change is
coming for dairymen that con
cerns milk quality and could leave
some dairymen dumping their
milk if they can’t make the grade.
Starting July 1 the allowable
somatic cell count level drops from
1.5 million to one million. Any
farmer with a count that routinely
runs close to or exceeds the million
level should be in the process of
making changes that will reduce
this count.
Some economic benefits that
occur with the correction of this
problem are; reduce veterinarian
bills, increased milk production
from cows that stay in the herd
longer, and receiving premium
payments for milk that meets
quality standards.
Before the problem can be
solved, it is important to un
derstand why the level is high and
why some actions are effective in
solving the problem.
Somatic cells is the collective
term for leucocytes and epithelial
cells. Leucocytes present in an
area increase in response to in
fection or injury, while the
epithelial cells are present as a
result of injury or infection, ac
cording to a report by mastitis
expert Dr. W. Nelson Philpot.
When an injury or infection
invades the udder, leucocytes
increase in number to fight this
microorganism. Epithelial cells
originate in the secretory tissue of
the udder, the target of many
microorganisms.
After the “battle” these two cells
slough off into the milk. These
dead cells are measured as the
somatic cell count of milk.
Therefore, the somatic cell level of
milk rises as a result of udder
infection. This is inversely related
to milk production as the milk
secretory or producing cells are
harmed in the “battle.”
Measurement of these cells is
usually done by the most accurate
method, Direct Microscopic Count
(DMSC). Other methods of testing
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SCC Countdown in
for somatic cells are the Wisconsin
Mastitis Test (WMT), Modified
Whiteside Test, California Mastitis
Test (CMT), and the Milk Quality
Test.
Some recommendations made
by the Inter-State Milk Producers
Cooperative to improve the SCC
count in their member’s herds
cover milking practices, cow care,
and environmental factors.
Milking practices are perhaps
the area of greatest influence since
most organisms are introduced
into the udder right before, during
or immediately after milking,
according to the guides issued by
Inter-State.
Proper milking techniques
recommended by Inter-State and
Philpot include use of a stress free
milking environment; the removal
of two or three streams of foremilk
from each quarter for detection of
problems between laboratory
counts and a CMT; washing the
udder with a warn sanitizing
solution and drying with a single
service towel; attaching the teat
cups approximately one minute
after starting udder prepping or
when the teats are full of milk.
These recommendations also
include adjusting the milker
forward and downward to insure
proper milk out; avoiding over
milking which irritates and injures
the teat and makes it susceptible to
infection; shutting the vacuum off
prior to removing the teat cups to
reduce damage to the teat end;
and teat dipping immediately after
removal of the milker further
protects the teat when it is “wide
open for infection.”
Checking the milking system at
least twice a year by a qualified
technician, and regular
replacement of inflations after
1,000 to 1,200 milkings are im
portant factors in avoiding stress
at the teat end.
Monthly CMT tests, and
enrollment in the DHIA SCC
testing program are two tools
which are available that can
pinpoint the problem cows in a
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herd. Additional care should be
given to these cows to solve the
problem.
Dry treating, milking them
separately or last, and chronically
high testing cows should be culled
or dried off are suggestions in a
report by Dr. Larry Hutchinson,
Penn State Veterinarian, in
dealing with high SCC cows.
Pennsylvania DHIA has a new
Somatic Cell Count program that
aids in detecting subclinical
mastitis. Dairymen enrolled in this
program receive a monthly report
on each cow’s SCC level and an
average for the herd.
The difference between this and
the old program is the narrower
breakdown of the somatic cell
count per milliliter. This system
improves the relationship between
SCC and milk loss and eases in
Beginning June 1, 1986, and
running through September 1,1986,
Pennsylvania DHIA will be con
ducting a pilot program to
evaluate the new Agricultural
Records Information Service
(ARIS) system. The ARIS system
is an on-line computer service,
which allows DHI dairymen to
access their records and create
customized management reports.
Twelve dairymen will be par
ticipating in the pilot project with
the goal of evaluating and giving
direction to the program before it
is released statewide. Participants
in the pilot project include Mason-
Dixon Farms, Adams County,
Sinking Spring Farm, Inc., York
County, Marymead Farms,
Montgomery County, Richard
Wamshuis, Erie County, Gillbrook
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Progress
terpretation of results, according
to DHIA.
Every time the SCC count
doubles, a 1.5 pound per day or 400
pounds per lactation loss occurs.
These figures are for one doubling.
If a cow’s level doubles three times
or if it is at the 565,000 level, her
production per lactation will
decrease by 1,200 pounds of milk.
Research in the U.S. and Europe
indicate that production losses
begin at levels lower than 100,000.
DHIA has developed a worksheet
which will allow the dairyman to
compute, through use of the SCC
code, the total amount of milk lost
per period per cow. This worksheet
permits the farmer to see on paper
how much of a liability a high
somatic cell count really is.
The new rules, regarding the
maximum allowable somatic cell
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count level in raw milk, specify
that if milk excedes the million
mark for two out of four counts, a
written notification will Die sent to
the producer.
If a third count tops the million
mark, a two day suspension for
shipping the milk is levied. This
milk cannot be picked up by the
hauler until the level drops below
the upper limit of one million.
During any suspensions, the
farmer is responsible for the
proper disposal of his milk.
Lowering a herd’s SCC level
heed not be time consuming or
expensive. Many problems can be
corrected by paying attention to
details. These details have the
potential of paying large dividends
through lower health costs, greater
production and a larger net profit.
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ARIS services should be
available statewide sometime this
fall. Interested dairymen may
contact Jay Wilson, Manager of
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Special Services.
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