Aim should be to keep SCCs under 200,000

It is difficult to pinpoint any particular reason for continuing problems with SCC in Irish dairying.

Ending Teagasc/Co-op mastitis control programmes in the late 90s was a major contributor. Bonuses for high quality milk and realistic penalties for SCC milk were delayed too long.

Seasonal adjustment for SCC prolonged the problem, enabling farmers with very high SCCs to continue without getting rid of the root causes, at huge cost to themselves and their co-ops.