Monitoring SCC levels does not diagnose the exact cause or kind of bacterial infection present, but alerts the producer that there is a serious problem. The SCC provides a tool to determine progress of a control program. In monitoring SCC levels, herd trends over several months are far more important than individual scores. In most herds, daily variations of up to 100,000 are not uncommon, highlighting the necessity of watching long-term trends to monitor herd mastitis level. The DHI SCC program allows monitoring trends affecting mammary gland infection for individual cows.
Data are helpful in locating problem sources or locations on a particular farm.
Summary The predominant factor affecting herd or individual cow SCC level is intramammary infections. The causes of infections are many and the method of transmission is virtually never a single factor, but a combination of many factors. Analysis of these factors, combined with herd history, cow environment, and bacteriological culture information provides valuable guidelines for better management decisions that can prevent problems and reduce some misconceptions concerning changes in somatic cell counts. Publications and visual aids concerning herd and individual factors affecting mastitis level and high SCC are available from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cooperative Extension Division . Kenneth R. Bolen, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.