Somatic cell count in dairy goats II: udder health monitoring at goat and herd level.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mastitis is a costly disease affecting dairy ruminants worldwide. Somatic cell count is the most widely used tool for udder health monitoring but is highly influenced by non-infectious factors in goats. The aim of this paper was to define adjusted action thresholds of somatic cell count for the detection of goats with intramammary infections. A secondary aim was to investigate the potential of bulk milk analyses in identifying herds with udder health issues. Nine Norwegian dairy goat herds were visited five times during one lactation. Somatic cell count measurements combined with bacteriological testing were performed both at goat and herd level.

Results

Staphylococcus (S.) aureus was the udder pathogen with the strongest influence on the somatic cell count and wa

SUBMITTER: Smistad M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11889764 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature