Somatic cell count and its value for dairy cow management

The value of somatic cell count (SCC) of milk samples of dairy cows for herd management was studied. Data on SCC from consecutive milkings were collected and analysed. Further on data on bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) from consecutive deliveries were recorded and analysed too. It was concluded that basically there were three different patterns of SCC during lactation: constant low, low with one peak and alternating. Cows with the last pattern have continuously high SCC during lactation with a large variation. Indices were developed to select cows with this pattern. These cows must be attended. After treatment 20% of the attended cows had a positive bacteriological culture. As with SCC from individual cows there was a large variation in BMSCC between consecutive deliveries. At herd level an index was developed showing the risk for a herd to have BMSCC higher than 400 000 cells/ml, given mean and variations of cow SCC. Results of this study were used by the NRS to improve information presented to farmers to control SCC of the herd.