Impact on Producer and Processor

Abstract The Food and Drug Administration's lowering of the acceptable somatic cell count in bulk milk to 1 million/ml in 1986 may affect 10 to 15% of the US herds at the onset. However, considerable benefit can be expected from lower somatic cell counts due to less clinical mastitis, increased yields of milk and cheese, higher milk fat test (and price of milk), and improved milk quality, with less risk of antibiotic-contaminated milk, fewer problems with rancidity and other off-flavors, and longer shelf-life of pasteurized dairy products. To reduce somatic cells, dairy producers will need to emphasize prevention of new intramammary infections rather than treatment of mastitis problems. Attention must be given to cow preparation at milking, teat dipping and dry cow therapy, proper use and maintenance of milking equipment, sanitation, housing, and other environmental conditions, monitoring individual cow somatic cell counts, and antibiotic residue testing.