Milk somatic cells in dairy cows kept on pasture or confined indoors during the summer
Simensen, E.
Nordisk Veterinaermedicin 28(12): 603-609
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-1579 PMID: 1012913 Document Number: 100680
During July 1975, milk samples were obtained weekly from (i) 49 cows kept on pasture during the day at average weekly daytime temp. ranging from 9.9 to 17.7 deg C, and (ii) 48 cows kept in stanchion barns at average weekly daytime temp. of 20.9 to 22.9 deg C and fed fresh grass twice daily. The number of infected quarters remained almost constant in (ii), and declined slightly towards the end of the experimental period in (i). Milk somatic cell counts (MSCC) remained relatively constant in (ii), but increased in (i); this increase was shown to be due mainly to increased MSCC in the non-infected quarters. It is concluded that seasonal increase in MSCC in cows kept on pasture during the summer cannot be directly related to temp. stress.