Milk flow patterns at the end of milking at the whole udder or quarter levels: relationship to somatic cell counts

Abstract

On the basis of the milk flow profiles analysed at the level of single quarters and whole udder relationships between the duration of the decline phase of milk flow and somatic cell counts (SCC) were investigated. 39 Holstein cows, free of clinical mastitis and in their first to third lactation, were used. A total of 1760 quarter and 440 whole udder milk flow curves were recorded during 6 consecutive days. At the last evening and morning milking of this period milk samples from all quarters were collected for SCC determination. At the whole udder level no relation between duration of the decline phase and SCC was found. The decline phase increased with increasing milk yield. At the single quarter level the cows with longer duration (over 80s) of quarter decline phase had significantly higher SCC in their milk. Single quarter decline phase increased with peak milk flow rate. The duration of the quarter decline phase was not related to the duration of blind phase (overmilking) and milk production. No correlation was found between duration of blind phase and SCC on a single quarter level.