Professional paper
Somatic cells and their influence on milk quality and processing
Neven Antunac
orcid.org/0000-0003-1084-5966
; Agronomski fakultet, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb
Jasmina Lukač-Havranek
Dubravka Samaržija
orcid.org/0000-0001-5577-4992
Abstract
The number of somatic cells is internationally recognized parameter for the evaluation of the udder health status. Although a proposal for paying for the milk according to the number of somatic cells is not yet accepted in Croatia, starting from Jannuary 1, 1995, milk in EC countries must not contain more than 400 000 somatic cells/ml. Udder bacterial infection (clinical or subclinical) is the main source of somatic cells in milk. By the increase of somatic cells number above 400 000/ml, milk becomes infected by mastitis. The consequences are a lowered milk secretion and change in chemical composition, physical, bacteriological and technological characteristics of milk. Quality of milk from infected quarter of udder can not be improved by any treatment, therefore it is one of the reasons why a regular diagnosis, control and prevention of mastitis is a must. The counting of the somatic cells number in cow milk is one of the recommended parameters for the evaluation of milk quality.
Keywords
somatic cells; mastitis; milk quality
Hrčak ID:
94915
URI
Publication date:
4.9.1997.
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