“An adequate supply of clean, wholesome, safe milk, from healthy cows, intelligently fed and cared for in sanitary stables, is of supreme importance.” This statement, published in 1929 in “Udder Diseases of the Cow”, is as relevant today for our dairy industry as it was 86 years ago. I enjoy reading old books related to agriculture and am always amazed at the insightfulness of comments made 75 to 100 years ago and their applicability today. The public demand for food that is safe, high quality, and affordable while being produced in a socially responsible way is nothing new.
A common way to assess milk quality is through the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) of raw milk. The BTSCC is the number of white blood cells in a milliliter of raw milk. The BTSCC is monitored in milk shipments using standards set in the US Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. In general, a lower BTSCC leads to an increase in shelf-life of milk. The BTSCC is also an indicator of infl ammation and infection in the udder of cows, with a higher BTSCC indicating poorer udder health.
Interestingly, the idea that “Education is an important factor in the improvement of the milk-supply, which cannot be accomplished by laws and regulations alone” was pointed out in “Udder Diseases of the Cow”. Since then, a tremendous amount of education supported by research has focused on milk quality and the control of mastitis. Producers are implementing best management practices as recommended by the NMC (www.nmconline.org) and others such as:
- Using proper milking procedures including pre- and post-milking teat disinfection,
- Servicing milking equipment on a regular basis
- Using dry cow therapy on every cow at the end of lactation,
- Treating mastitis with antibiotics,
- Grouping, segregating, or culling problem cows, and
- Providing a low stress, clean environment for cows.
Education of producers and employees has improved milk quality. According to the USDA, producer BTSCC has decreased from 298,000 cells/milliliter in 2007 to 229,000 cells/milliliter in 2014. Of note is that in 2014 96% of producers shipped milk for the entire year with a BTSCC below 750,000 cells/milliliter (the legal limit) while 65% of producers shipped milk for the entire year with a BTSCC below 400,000 cells/milliliter. Milk quality bonuses paid to producers by processors has probably helped lower BTSCC also.
Unfortunately, some producers still seem to struggle with BTSCC and mastitis control. Why? Well maybe it has to do with “people factors”. An Irish study found the attitudes, values, and sociodemographic profiles of producers explained at least as much or more of the variation in somatic cell count among herds than management factors. In support, a Dutch study found that low BTSCC herds (≤150,000 cells/milliliter) had producers that worked precisely rather than fast, kept better records, were more familiar with individual cows, and provided cleaner housing for cows than producers from high BTSCC herds.
Closer to home, a recent study of producers in the eastern US found that producer and manager beliefs and attitudes, including the perception of mastitis problems, were associated with BTSCC. Strict compliance with milking protocols, giving employees a financial or other penalty if BTSCC increased, and a perceived importance of reducing labor costs were negatively associated with BTSCC. The researchers suggested that one of the challenges that may impede mastitis control in larger herds now and in the future is employee management. Training and retraining of employees on procedures and management practices related to milk quality is critical.
It is clear that to produce clean, wholesome, safe milk that comprehensive approaches to lowering BTSCC and controlling mastitis is needed. Many of the best management practices that have been long recommended to improve milk quality are highly adopted by producers today. However, both management practices and human factors need to be considered. The values and attitudes regarding mastitis and BTSCC are keys to better milk quality.
Source: Miner Institute
