The effect of dairy herd management and milking practices on milk quality.
P. Londono-Gutierrez and W.J. Anderson
Department of Agribusiness & Resource Management, Massey University
Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1998,
58: 56-60
A mail survey to 200 dairy company suppliers in July 1996
received a 46% response. Certain practices (e.g. SAMM (Seasonal Approach
to Managing Mastitis) plan) reported by seasonal supply farmers were
compared with their company’s milk quality records for the 1995/96 year.
An indicator of udder health was Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Count (BSCC).
Mean BSCC (1995/96 lactation) for survey respondents was 217,000
cells/mL. 35% achieved a seasonal average BSCC<150,000 cells/mL; 3%
had BSCC>400,000 cells/mL. Milksolids per hectare was significantly
(p<0.01) and negatively correlated with BSCC. "Low BSCC" suppliers
(<120,000 cells/mL) reported using similar dairy husbandry and milking
procedures to the 65% of suppliers with BSCC above 150,000 cells/mL. 45
% with BSCC<250,000 cells/mL consciously used the SAMM plan compared to
22% among those with BSCC>250,000 (p<0.05). Farm dairy hygiene,
detection and treatment of mastitis infection (lactating or dry cow
therapy), drying-off and culling of selected cows remain important
practices for maintaining milk quality.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Somatic cells, bulk somatic cell count, milk quality, SAMM plan.
Last Updated 12-09-1998
