For decades, Somatic cell count (SCC) has been used as the key indicator in mastitis screening programs typically applied in the frame of Dairy Herd Improvement (DHI) testing programs. But mastitis is still the costliest disease in global milk production today, in particular in its subclinical form which can go unnoticed and cause significant economic loss.
In recent years, the introduction of a new generation of milk analysers offering rapid and simultaneous determination of SCC and a new parameter, differential somatic cell count (DSCC), has opened up the possibility of new mastitis testing options that help veterinarians and dairy farmers to safeguard udder health in individual cows and prevent mastitis from spreading within herds.
The combination of SCC and DSCC provides more precise information on the actual inflammatory status of the mammary gland, thus enabling early detection and more effective control of the disease and subsequently resulting in economic profit for dairy farmers.
Browse this collection of articles and academic papers to learn more about the powerful tools and new testing strategies offering new opportunities to improve mastitis management.
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