The present research was conducted to determine the effect of season, lactation number and type score factors on the somatic cell count (SCC) in Black and White cattle raised in the Mediterranean climate zone. 1368 milk samples obtained from 128 cattle were analysed for SCC determination. Significant effects of season, lactation number and type scores on SCC were observed. The results indicate that the necessity to comply with the care and barn cleaning of the cows in the summer and the importance of the type characteristics in the selection programs may be effective in reducing the of SCC.

In this study, physical, chemical and microbiological properties of 50 raw bulk milk samples obtained from 5 different dairy plants in the Sivas were investigated. The pH, acidity, fat, non-fat dry-matter, total dry matter contents and density of raw milk samples were 4.89-6.70, 0.135-0.495%, 1.7-7.6%, 7.33-9.80%, 10.00-16.90%, and 1.0230-1.0312 g/mL, respectively. Fat content of the 26%, specific gravity of 28%, total dry matter of 32%, solids-non-fat of 58%, pH value of 84% of the milk samples were found lower whereas titratable acidity of 60% of the samples were determined higher than the values stated in the Turkish Food Codex and in the Raw Milk Standard. Total coliform bacteria counts of 30%, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria counts of 88%, and somatic cell counts of 40% of the samples were higher than 1100 MPN/mL, 100000 cfu/mL and 500000 cell/mL, respectively. Yeast-mold counts of 72% of the milk samples were found between 104-106 cfu/mL.

The aim of the present research was to determine the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and milk composition. Milk samples were collected in November and May in 2012. In the study, 128 milk samples from Brown Swiss cattle, divided into two groups. They were arranged from low score (≤500 000cell/ml) to high score (>500 000cell/ml) according to the Turkish Food Codex upper limit. The averages of SCC were determined as 10.444±0.073cells/ml for first group and 10.820±0.088cells/ml for second group, respectively. In the one group dry matter, non fat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose levels and standard errors were determined as 13.3±0.60%, 8.3±0.21%, 4.5±0.61%, 3.0±0.14% and 4.7±0.07%, respectively. The other group same traits were calculated 13.7±0.17%, 7.9±0.10%, 5.8±0.14%, 3.0±0.06% and 4.1±0.05%, respectively. Significant correlations were found between SCC and non fat dry matter (r=-0.109) protein (r=0.145), lactose (r=-0.490) in the second group. But, non significant correlations were determined between SCC and dry matter, non fat dry matter, fat, protein and lactose in the first group. As a result, increasing of the number of somatic cells, milk, lactose, protein, and fat-free dry matter content was determined to be significantly affected.

The somatic cell count (SCC) is commonly used as a measure of udder health and milk quality. Thus, to determine the milk quality standards in many countries, it legally determined as an indicator of somatic cell count raw milk and determines the level of payments to milk producers. The present study investigated that the somatic cell count is an indicator of udder health status, diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, health and quality of milk and milk products, its importance and effect factors on it.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of udder measurements group on somatic cell count (SCC) and daily milk production. Milk samples and udder measurements were collected monthly from 79 lactating Holstein cows on commercial dairy in the province of Niğde. In the study, front teat length (FTL), rear teat length (RTL), front teat diameter (FTD), rear teat diameter (RTD), distance between front teats (DBFT), distance between rear teats (DBRT), front udder height, (FTH), rear udder height (RUH), distance between front and rear teats (DBST) were obtained in before afternoon milking. Udder measurements were divided into 5 groups according to the measurements. The effect of DBFT, DBRT, FTH, RTD, FTD and DBRT groups on daily milk production were statistically significant, while FTH, RUH and DBRT were found non-significant. The effect of udder measurements groups on SCC was found not significant, except rear teat diameter (RTD). Average daily milk production and SCC were estimated as 28.25 kg/day and 274.90 cell/ml, respectively. In conclusion, it can be said that the distance between teats, teat’s diameter and front udder height of Holstein cattle is important factor for milk yield of Holstein dairy cattle. Also, SCC is effected by rear teat diameter.