SOMATIC CELLS COUNT IN THE MILK OF DIFFERENT BREED COWS IN UNEQUAL PARITIES AND CLIMATE

Abstract

The relationship between somatic cells count (SCC) and the parities from cows with bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, in different breeds and climates was investigated. A dairy herd with Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle was studied from August/2005 to December/2006. The animals were studied in two different periods, rainy and dryness, and also in agreement with the parities in Group “Lac 1”, formed by animals in the first parity; Group “Lac 2 to 4” was formed by animals in the second, third and fourth parities; and Group “Lac ≥ 5” was formed by animals in the course of fifth or more parities. The milk somatic cells determination was performed by electronical count. There was not statistical significant difference in the milk cell count from infected mammary quarters in the different parities, when compared with the rainy and dryness periods (P=0.8473) and also animal breeds (P=0.9153).