Potential use of milk analyses for udder health control in highly productive dairy herd

Abstract

The differences of milk composition in highly productive dairy herd in milk bulk tank and from individual dairy cows in the frame of referral A4 (AP) and B control were analysed in the paper. During the experiment the oscillations of somatic cells count (SCC), of the content of lactose and enzyme LDH activity were monitored. Significant oscillations of the SCC and enzyme LDH activity in milk tank were noticed. The somatic cell count in milk tank varied between 87 and 770 thousand cells/ml milk, and enzyme LDH activity between 7 and 173 U/l milk. When the SCC in the milk tank exceeded 400 thousand SCC, enzyme LDH activity exceeded 100 U/l milk. Both parameters were used for udder health control. The content of lactose, which also shows udder diseases, lowered only when the SCC in the milk tank exceeded 600 thousand SCC/ml milk. AP and B control were carried out on the farm at the time of no udder disorders reported in the herd.