Effect of mastitis on raw milk compositional quality.
In this study, we investigated the impact of mastitis infection on the quality of milk composition in small-scale dairy bovine herds. The purpose of this study was to find a milk quality somatic cell count (SCC) standard that could be used as an integral component of a control program. In all, 396 quarter milk samples from lactating cross-bred cows (Holstein & Zebu) were analyzed; 56% of these quarters were experiencing intramammary infection, with an overall mean SCC of 5.46 x 10(5) +/- 2.30 x 10(4)cells/ml. Infected quarters had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean SCC levels (6.19 x 10(5) +/- 4.40 x 10(4)cells/ml) compared to healthy quarters (2.65 x 10(5) +/- 2.40 x 10(4)cells/ml). In high SCC milk and infected quarters, the concentrations of non-casein fractions, sodium, chloride, and free fatty acid were higher (p < 0.05), while the casein content, lactose, casein-to-total protein, potassium, and calcium were lower (p < 0.05) compared to normal quarters. These findings suggest a mean SCC threshold limit of 5.46 x 10(5)cells/ml for the region. It was concluded that the results could be used to propose a milk quality SCC standard that can be used as an integral component of a control program.
Guildford Institute, Egerton University, Egerton, Kenya.
Henry
H
Ogola
Anakalo
A
Shitandi
Jackin
J
Nanua
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D005260:Female; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012424:Rural Population; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric