STUDY ON THE SOMATIC CELL COUNT IN COW MILK FROM TWO DIFFERENT FARMING TECHNOLOGIES

Tatyana Ivanova, Pencho Penchev, Yordanka Ilieva

Abstract: The effect of technology on the somatic cell count (SCC) was studied on 2783 milk samples from 16 monthly test days from two farms: Fm-1 with 139 cows, tie-stalled on rubber beds; Fm-2 – 210 cows on brick/straw beds, yard and pasture, and teat treatment after milking and during dry-off. Cell counting (SCC/ml) was performed with Fossomatic 360, and processing of data (SCC×10-2) – with LSMLMW and MIXMDL (general model and within farms). The ANOVA showed significant effect of farm (Р = 0.0334), the SCC for Fm-2 being more favourable (still over 400×103/ml). Test day showed most pronounced effect (Р < 0.0001), July and September being with especially higher SCC (P ≤ 0.001).Significant effects of calving season, parity, milk yield, and protein were established for Fm-1 (P ≤ 0.05), not for Fm-2. SCC for Fm-2 declines gradually throughout lactation, while for Fm-1 the dynamics are inconsistent. Increase of SCC from first to fourth-plus lactation was observed for Fm-1 only.

Keywords: cow milk; LS-analysis; somatic cells; technology

Date published: 2018-05-28