Somatic cell count: Mastitis causing organisms and its effect on milk protein and lactose

High SCC is strongly associated with the incidence of bovine disease mastitis, which is one of the most significant and quantifiable sources of the costs arising from high SCC levels. It is the single most costly disease to dairy producers. Thereby the present study was carried out to detect the level of Somatic cell count with various bacterial infections with special reference to Staphylococcus and the effect of SCC on milk protein and lactose was estimated. The milk samples with somatic cell count (SCC) less than 2x105 cells/ml were considered as culture negative. The means of the somatic cell count of milk samples with staphylococcus sp infection was found to be more than 12.4x106 cells/ml and the means of the SCC with more than two isolates were 134x106 cells/ml. furthermore to look into if there exists any relation between the effect of SCC on milk protein and lactose we found that the mean milk protein percentage and lactose percentage was higher in milk of low SCC when compared to that of the milk with moderate and high SCC. This situation proves the necessity of respecting and improving the quality of standard milk, where SCC can be used as an integral component of the control program.