Quarter-milk somatic cell count at calving and at the first six milkings after calving

Thirty cows were studied during the first six milkings after calving. Quart er foremilk samples were collected by the farmers at calving and at six sub sequent milkings. Geometric-mean somatic cell count (SCC) decreased from 59 3 000 at calving to 126 000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. In quarters infected with major pathogenic bacteria, geometric-mean SCC was 3 229 000 cells/ml at calving, and 1 257 000 cells/ml at the sixth milking a fter calving. In quarters infected with minor pathogenic bacteria, geometri c-mean SCC was 1 000 000 cells/ml at calving, and 170 000 cells/ml at the s ixth milking after calving. In culture-negative quarters, geometric-mean SC C decreased from 306 000 at calving to 42 000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. Quarter SCC can be used early postpartum to give an indicat ion of intra-mammary infection status. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.