Farmers, processors must address milk somatic cell count and total bacterial count problems
Researchers from Teagasc, UCD and UCC experts agreed with farmers and processors that milk somatic cell count and total bacterial count problems in Ireland need to be addressed immediately. They said the SCC in Irish herds has been increasing by 5,000 per year. They found that lower SCC and TBC were associated with larger volume milk production — possibly due to dilution — and with herd milk recording.
The symposium also heard results were of new Dutch research which showed average cost of mastitis, clinical and sub-clinical, between €114 and €182 per cow. These figures, which do not include mastitis prevention costs, covered the range from bulk somatic cell counts below 100,000 to over 400,000. Specific data collected from 71 farms revealed economic damage ranging from €17 to €198 per cow.
