Relationship between milking management practices and milk somatic cell counts on local dairy farms

Milking management practices on 1373 dairy farms located in the district of Tokachi, Hokkaido were surveyed and their effects on the somatic cell counts (SCC) were analyzed. The measures relating to the milking management practices were analyzed on the dairy herds: the rate of adoption of recommended milking managements; relationship between milking managements and annual weighted average bulk tank milk SCC (BMSCC); and annual average SCC linear score of individual cows. The managements that have the significant influence on number of SCC were: cow body cleanliness, dry cow therapy, timing of post-dipping, no over-milking, type of dipper, wearing rubber gloves and proper antibiotic infusion. BMSCC (log(X/10E3)) decreased from 2.21 to 2.14 as the number of the practiced managements increased, while BMSCC increased from 2.31 to 2.45 as the unpracticed managements increased. The SCC linear score decreased from 2.65 to 2.36 as the number of the practiced managements increased, and it increased 2.96 to 3.76 as the unpracticed managements increased. The simultaneous practice of milking managements that were highly influential on SCC was more efficient for decreasing SCC and their improvement of milk quality.