DESCRIPTION AND FACTORS OF VARIATION OF INDIVIDUAL CELL COUNTS OF COW'S MILK IN THE ABOVEGROUND UNITS IN TUNISIA COASTAL SEMI-ARID

Abstract

This study has as essential objective the breast health diagnosis of a sample of 120 cattle farms conducted in above ground in the Tunisian Sahel, from the Individuals Cellular Counts (ICC). The analysis of the ICC has inferred that the infection status of the breasts is worrying (50% of the sample is infected). Depending governorates, Sousse always haves the highest ICC, followed by Monastir with lower ICC and finally Mahdia with the lowest ICC. The determination and distribution of arithmetic averages (AA) and geometric (GA) and the quartiles and interquartile of ICC led to highlight that AA of ICC are always higher than the GA of ICC. The median is closer to GA of ICC than AA of ICC, confirming the utility of the use of the GA in the cell distribution. The rank and stage of lactation, season of calving and milk production are important evolution of the ICC.

Keywords

• Dairy Cattle Breeding
• Aboveground system
• Individual Cell Count
• Mammary Infection
• Tunisia Semi-arid.