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Extension Publications

Lowering Somatic Cell Counts with Best Management Practices

Lowering Somatic Cell Counts with Best Management Practices

AEN-123: Lowering Somatic Cell Counts with Best Management Practices

Authored by: Steve Higgins Kylie Schmidt Sarah Wightman

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Abstract

As health and food safety concerns grow, dairy producers are facing more stringent regulations. In 2010, the European Union (EU) set the somatic cell count (SCC) upper limit, an indicator of milk quality, for exported milk at 400,000 cells per milliliter. However, the current U.S. SCC limit is 750,000 cells per milliliter. As of January 2012, any U.S. milk used in export markets must meet the EU standards. It is projected that US milk processors will gradually adopt the EU upper limit, making it difficult for dairy producers to sell milk containing more than 400,000 somatic cells per milliliter. Dairy producers will have to find innovative and cost-effective ways to reduce the somatic cell count of their milk. This publication will discuss how agriculture best management practices can be used to lower SCC.

Core Details

Publication ID

AEN-123

Status

New

Publication Date

May. 14, 2014

Series

Multi-Part Series

N/A


Categorical Details

Language

English

Peer Reviewed?

Yes

Contact Information

Tawana Brown
Associate Director, Educational Publications

361 Blazer Dining 343 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. Lexington, KY 40526-0012

+1 (859) 257-7566

tawana.brown@uky.edu