The importance of somatic cell count in dairy technology

Abstract

Mastitis is an important infection that affects herd health, udder health and milk yield of individual animals. Somatic cells (SCs) naturally present in milk are used as an indicator of subclinical mastitis, but also to assess milk quality and safety. Somatic cell count is the main monitoring variable used in milk quality and safety assessment. This review especially focuses on the effect of SCs on milk as food and also their effect on the dairy technology. The most significant effect of SCC on dairy technology is provided by the enzymes released from these cells. Alternatively, a limited number of conclusions were reported that SCs may assist dairy technology. SCs pass to milk and continue inhibitory effect on bacteria.

Keywords

• somatic cell count
• raw milk
• quality
• milk safety
• dairy technology