Milk yield and composition in line 05 dairy ewesas related to somatic cell counts

Abstract

A total of 1512 milk samples from udder halves was collected at monthly intervals from 189 line 05 dairy ewes throughout milking periods. Each ewe was tested 4 times. Milk composition was examined in terms of somatic cell contents (SCC) in ewe milk in three groups: group 0 consisted of ewes that on each test day had 250 10 3 cells/ml in left and right udder halves, group 1 comprised ewes with 250 10 3 in one half of the udder and >250 10 3 cells/ml in the other half, whereas group 2 contained ewes that had >250 10 3 cells/ml in the left and right udder halves (also on each test day). SCC in milk from one or both halves of udders exceeding 250 10 3 cells/ml resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.01), 20.7%, decrease in daily milk production.