In the current research, it was aimed to determine Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and the factors effecting on SCC in milk samples of Brown Swiss cattle raised at different farm conditions in Yıldızeli district of Sivas province in Turkey. Raw milk samples were collected at morning milking in months of May and November in year 2012. In total, 244 milk samples from 122 Brown Swiss cattle were analyzed. The effects of calving age, farm and test month on SCC were statistically significant. In the present study, the average SCC was determined as 1209696±111361 cells/ml. About 56.6% of milk from November month and about 48.4 % of milk samples from Brown Swiss were containing over 500.000 cell/ ml. As a result, Brown Swiss cattle identified SCC in raw milk samples were significantly higher than the values specified in the legislation of the European Union Commission and Turkish Food Codex.

In this study, the milk quality characteristics of Simmental (SIM) and Red-Holstein (RH) breeds raised in a private farm in Aydın were determined. As milk quality properties, the percentages of protein (MPC), lactose (MLC), non-fat dry matter (NFDMC), total dry matter (TDMC), casein (MCC) contents and also milk urea nitrogen (MUN), oleic acid (OA), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and somatic cell count (SCC) were determined. The averages of MPC, MLC, NFDMC, TDMC, MCC, MUN, OA, BHBA and Log10SCC belonging to RH and SIM breeds are 3.38 ± 0.021% and 3.40 ± 0.015%, 4.86 ± 0.028% and 4.81 ± 0.019%, 9.09 ± 0.037 and 9.09 ± 0.025, 11.18 ± 0.069 and 11.23 ± 0.048, 2.50 ± 0.020 and 2.44 ± 0.014, 12.07 ± 0.200 mg / dl and 12.28 ± 0.138 mg / dl, 0.258 ± 0.0095 g / 100 g and 0.255 ± 0.0065 g / 100 g, 0.284 ± 0.138 mmol / L and 0.269 ± 0.0093 mmol / L, and 5.417 ± 0.0173 (261216 cells / ml) and 5.401 ± 0.0118 (251768 cells / ml) were found, respectively. The breed did not differ significantly in milk quality characteristics, except for MCC. The lower SCC level in milk and the suitable level of MUN for both breeds shows that the factors such as maintenance-feeding-housing-herd management in the farm were optimal in this herd.

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting mastitis cases and to estimate the correlations of somatic cell count (SCC) with milk yield in Holstein cows. The study was conducted in two private dairy farms in Hódmezõvásárhely, South-Hungary. A total of 882 Holstein cows were tested by SCC, fat and protein contents of milk monthly intervals. To test milk SCC and components, two groups were designed, and to examine effect of parity on first mastitis day (FMD) and total mastitis cases (TMC), four groups were divided. It was noted that higher SCC caused to higher TMC. While cows had higher protein content exposed to higher FMD and TMC, cows had lower daily milk yield (DMY) had higher values by mastitis case parameters. In parity evaluation, only primiparous cows had statistically lower TMC. The cows with lower SCC were found in advance in change of milk yield (CMY) up to 6.858±0.947 kg. A negative correlation coefficient was estimated between SCC and DMY. Finally, monitoring SCC of milk is offered to prevent milk production losses and new mastitis occurrences in the herds.

The aim of this study was to reveal the association of alizarin test scores (ATS) with somatic cell scores (SCC) in bovine milk. The milk samples (n=60) were collected from three milk selling points in Samsun province of Turkey in two test days (TD). To obtain ATS, change of colour in milk after adding dye solution were used (ATS 1: red-brown/normal, ATS 2: yellow/acidic, and ATS 3: violet/alkali). To test for reliability of ATS by acidity, pH values of the samples were measured with a standard pH meter. In SCC analyses, direct microscopic cell counting was applied. Of examined parameters, only SCC was differed by TD, and both pH and SCC were differed by the location. According to ATP groups, pH and SCC means were also changed. Finally, estimated weak (r=0.247) correlation coefficient between ATS and SCC pointed out that ATS data are not suitable to detect quality degree of bovine milk samples.

The aim of this study was to determine the reproductive characteristics, milk yield and milk quality of Primiparous Red-Holstein (RH) and Holstein-Friesian (HF) cows. For this aim, records and monthly taken milk samples of 83 RH and 14 HF raised on a farm in Aydın, Turkey were used. The averages of the first calving age (FCA), gestation length (GL), days open (DO), calving interval (CI), daily milk yield (DMY), 305-day milk yield (305-dMY), solid non-fat (SNF) and Log10 somatic cell count (Log10SCC) of milk were found to be 27.6±0.24 mo, 278.4±1.09 d, 144.0±7.12 d, 421.4±7.66 d, 22.7±0.21 kg, 6981±137.0 kg, 9.8±0.04% and 4.59±0.024 (38905 cells/ml), respectively. Except for DMY, the differences between the breeds were statistically insignificant for FCA, GL, DO, CI, 305-dMY, SNF and Log10SCC. DMY averages for RH and HF were 21.8±0.21 kg and 24.3±0.49 kg, respectively. The effect of season on FCA and the effect of lactation month on SNF and Log10SCC were also found to be statistically significant. Apart from DMY, not any significant difference was observed between RH and HF breeds in terms of the characteristics emphasized.

Colostrum quality produced by dairy cows varies considerably. The amount of immune protein content in colostrum has also high specific gravity. In this study, the specific gravity of colostrum (SGC) produced by 32 Holstein-Friesian cows with different parities in the first five milking after calving, and additionally, the fat content (FC), non-fat dry matter content (NFDMC) and somatic cell count (SCC) in the milk samples taken in the first five milking and on the fifth and 10th day milking of lactation were determined. The effects of parity and milking order on SGC, FC, NFDMC and Log10SCC were detected to be statistically significant. Parity x milking order interaction effect was found to be significant for SGC, FC and NFDMC, but its effect on Log10SCC was insignificant. Cows with three and upper parities had higher SGC, FC, NFDMC, and Log10SCC than cows in the first and second parities. While SGC (1055.09±1.20 mg/mL), FC (6.36±0.12%) and NFDMC (18.17±0.37%) obtained at the first milking decreased gradually in advancing milking, Log10SCC (5.90±0.028) level increased. The correlation coefficients of SGC with FC, NFDMC, and Log10SCC were low-medium, the coefficients between FC and NFDMC were moderately too high in the first three milking, and decreased and approached zero in advancing milking. It was observed that SGC remained high even in the fourth milking in some cows, especially in the third and higher parities. In conclusion, it has been revealed that not only colostrum obtained from the first milking, but also quality colostrum produced in subsequent milking can be used in calf feeding in dairy cattle farms. However, all this depends on the adoption of the strategy of determining the quality of colostrum with the help of a colostrometer in dairy cattle farms.

The objective of the present study was to determine the relationships between animal welfare score (AWS) and milk somatic cell count (SCC) in Anatolian buffaloes. The study carried out on 39 buffalo farms of Bafra district of Samsun province of Turkey between January and March 2020. To obtain AWS data, a scale with 1 to 100 points (1-25: poor, 26-50: moderate, 51-75: suitable and ≥76: excellent) was used. Locomotion ability (LA), social interaction (SI), flooring (F), indoor conditions (IC) and effect of stockman (S) were used to be AWS parameters. Milk samples were analyzed by SCC using a portable cell counter. The SCC values were transferred to log10 base before the analyses. To assess the effects of AWS on logSCC, independent sample t-test was performed. The relations of all parameters with each other were calculated by Kendall rank correlation method and the statistical analyses were carried out by SPSS 17.0. The highest and the lowest means were obtained from SI (79.66±1.28) and F (61.79±2.51), respectively. While the highest correlation was estimated between IC and AWS (r=0.724), all AWS parameters had approximately moderate relations with AWS. Positive or negative, but insignificant correlation coefficients were estimated between any traits and logSCC. The means of SCC (136841±15522 cells/ml) and AWS (68.70±1.67) of the present study were found within the suitable thresholds. Routinely keeping the records on AWS and its components, and adding AWS data to the herd management programs was suggested to the buffalo farm owners.

The aim of this study was to reveal the relationships between dye reduction test scores and somatic cell count (SCC) in bovine raw milk. The SCC, methyelene blue reduction scores (MTS) and resazurin reduction test scores (RTS) were determined at biweekly intervals in four test days (TD) between March and April 2017 in a total of 89 raw milk samples sold in Samsun province as unpacked. While SCC values were recorded by an automatic counter, all SCC values were transformed to log10 base before statistical analysis. In MTS method, the time for the change of the color of milk from blue to white was noted and milk quality was assessed using a 1 to 4 point scale (1=>5h-good/excellent; 2=2-5h-medium; 3=0.5-2h-bad and 4=

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships of udder surface temperature (UST) with milk components, and somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy cows during the hot season. The study was carried out with 115 lactating dairy cows (Holstein, Simmental, and Holstein × Simmental) at a private dairy farm in Samsun, Turkey, with monthly visits. The UST was measured from the udder surface before cleaning and milking. At the same time, a portable cell counter and an automatic milk analyzer were used to determine the components and the SCC of the raw milk. The UST values of the cows changed significantly. Increased UST had an adverse effect on milk solids-non-fat (SNF), protein, lactose, and density levels. LogSCC values of cow groups with UST ≤35.0°C, 35.1-36.0°C, >36.0°C were found to be 4.475±0.0803, 4.774±0.1244, and 4.981±0.1491 respectively. The UST negatively correlated with SNF, protein, lactose, density, and freezing point, but positively correlated with LogSCC. As a result, performing UST measurements before milking may be beneficial to monitor udder health and to obtain high quality milk.

The aim of this study was to determine the milk quality characteristics of Simmental (SIM) cows of Austrian origin, which have increased the interest of breeders in Türkiye in recent years. For this aim, the milk analysis results of a farm located in Menemen County, İzmir/Türkiye from 2012 to 2021 were used. Milk fat (MF, %), protein (MP, %), lactose (ML, %), total dry matter (TDM, %) contents and somatic cell count (SCC, cell/ml) were determined. In order to determine the current situation, milk samples were taken from the cows (90 heads) in August 2021, and in addition to the above milk components, the solid non-fat (SNF) and freezing point (FP) were determined. The effects of sampling season, calving month, lactation month, sampling season x calving month and sampling season x lactation month interactions were found to be statistically significant for all traits (P<0.05). Parity and calving month effects on Log10SCC were also detected to be statistically significant (P<0.05). The mean MF, MP, ML, TDM, FP and SCC of SIM cattle were 3.71±0.018%, 3.42±0.009%, 4.63±0.009%, 12.49±0.03, -0.535±0.003oC and 5.14±0.01 (138.038 cells/ml), respectively. It was concluded that the milk components of Austrian-origin SIM cattle are not very different from the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed, however, in the low SCC average for many years, besides the important contribution of the measures taken against mastitis in the farm, the resistance against mastitis may be higher in this genotype. This situation is thought to be the reason why breeders in Türkiye prefer Austrian-origin SIM cattle in addition to high milk yield and carcass weight.