What is the main purpose of somatic cell count in milk evaluation?

What is the main purpose of somatic cell count in milk evaluation?

• A. To measure milk fat content only.
• B. To determine pasteurization temperature.
• C. To evaluate packaging efficiency.
• D. To assess udder health and milk quality; high SCC indicates potential quality and safety concerns.

Answer: (D)

Somatic cell count in milk is a marker of udder health and milk quality. When the udder is inflamed, usually from a mastitis infection, immune cells rush into the milk, driving SCC up. So a higher SCC signals that there may be an infection or inflammation in the mammary gland, which can compromise milk quality and safety. Milk with elevated SCC often has changes in composition and properties that affect processing and shelf life, and processors use SCC as a quality and health indicator to decide on milk suitability and potential actions on herd health. It’s not about fat content, pasteurization temperature, or packaging efficiency, which are governed by other measurements.

Somatic cell count in milk is a marker of udder health and milk quality. When the udder is inflamed, usually from a mastitis infection, immune cells rush into the milk, driving SCC up. So a higher SCC signals that there may be an infection or inflammation in the mammary gland, which can compromise milk quality and safety. Milk with elevated SCC often has changes in composition and properties that affect processing and shelf life, and processors use SCC as a quality and health indicator to decide on milk suitability and potential actions on herd health. It’s not about fat content, pasteurization temperature, or packaging efficiency, which are governed by other measurements.