Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is an important indicator of mammary gland health and milk quality in dairy animals worldwide. Somatic cells are mainly composed of defense cells called leukocytes (white blood cells that pass from the blood to the udder in response to an invading pathogen) and epithelial cells shed from the mammary gland.
In healthy animals, SCC is generally present at low levels in milk, with an accepted threshold of around 100,000 cells/mL. An increase in SCC often indicates inflammation or infection in the mammary gland and can serve as an early warning sign of udder health issues. Since elevated SCC can adversely affect milk quality and the production of value-added dairy products, monitoring SCC is becoming increasingly important for milk unions, dairy cooperatives, and dairy processors to maintain milk quality standards across their procurement network.
For milk unions, dairy cooperatives, and dairy processors, elevated SCC levels can indicate underlying mastitis issues within the milk procurement network and may impact the quality and processing performance of milk received at the dairy plant.
| SCC Level (cells/mL) | Interpretation |
| Below 100,000 | Healthy udder |
| 100,000 – 200,000 | Monitor closely |
| Above 200,000 | Likely mastitis or inflammation |
| Above 400,000 | Significant milk quality concern |
Producing high-quality milk is essential across the dairy value chain—from dairy farmers and milk unions to cooperatives and dairy processors. High SCC in milk is associated with:
As SCC rises above acceptable limits, milk quality deteriorates, affecting the production and quality of cheese, yogurt, paneer, mozzarella, UHT milk, infant nutrition products, and other high-value dairy products. High SCC can reduce product yield, impact processing efficiency, and affect the quality characteristics expected by consumers.
Several factors influence the SCC level in milk.
The most common cause of elevated SCC is inflammation or infection of the mammary gland, commonly known as mastitis.
The generally accepted indicator of mastitis is an SCC above 200,000 cells/mL. Higher SCC levels are often associated with more severe infections.
Mastitis can:
Because of these impacts, mastitis is considered one of the most costly diseases affecting dairy cattle.
SCC naturally increases as animals approach the dry period. Physiological, hormonal, and metabolic changes occurring during dry-off and around calving can temporarily suppress the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infection.
Younger animals generally have lower SCC levels compared to older animals.
Udder and teat conformation also play an important role. Animals with well-attached udders and properly formed teats often experience fewer mastitis cases compared to animals with pendulous udders or larger teat canals.
Poor hygiene conditions significantly increase the risk of intramammary infections, leading to elevated SCC levels. Proper farm sanitation and milking hygiene are critical for maintaining milk quality.
Milking management can directly affect SCC.
Overmilking may cause teat damage and increase the risk of bacterial invasion. Long intervals between milkings can increase pressure within the udder, while more frequent milking may help flush pathogens from the mammary gland.
Among all seasons, summer and monsoon are often the most challenging periods for mastitis control.
SCC levels typically begin to rise during late summer and may remain elevated throughout the monsoon season. Along with higher SCC levels, dairy farms often experience an increase in clinical mastitis cases.
In Indian dairy farming conditions, the combination of high temperature, humidity, wet bedding, and increased environmental bacterial load during late summer and monsoon creates ideal conditions for mastitis-causing pathogens. These conditions significantly increase the likelihood of udder infections and elevated SCC levels.
Summer heat and monsoon humidity create two major challenges:
Bacteria require food, water, and favorable environmental conditions to survive and multiply. Warm temperatures and high humidity create an ideal environment for bacterial growth.
As bacterial populations increase, the risk of udder infections and mastitis also rises.
Dairy animals experience significant physical stress during summer.
Research has shown that elevated stress hormone levels can interfere with the immune system’s ability to fight bacterial infections. When the immune system is weakened, animals become more vulnerable to mastitis-causing pathogens, leading to increased SCC and more clinical mastitis cases.
Bacteria use organic matter such as bedding material, manure, and milk residues as food sources.
Keeping bedding clean and dry is essential to minimize bacterial growth. Proper stocking density and good stall design can also help maintain cleaner resting areas and reduce infection risk.
Regardless of the bedding material used, proper maintenance and cleanliness are critical for controlling SCC.
Heat stress can occur at temperatures as low as 26°C when humidity is high.
Providing adequate cooling through ventilation, fans, open curtains, and proper barn airflow helps maintain cow comfort, reduce stress, and support immune function. Improved environmental conditions also contribute to better milk production and lower SCC levels.
Effective pre-dipping and post-dipping practices are essential in all seasons.
Milkers should ensure that towels used for teat drying are clean and dry. Regular observation of milk for abnormalities such as flakes, clots, or watery appearance can help identify mastitis at an early stage.
More than annoyance and irritation, flies carry many diseases, including mastitis-causing pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, for instance). Some flies prefer to bite the teats and teat ends where the skin is thin and soft, causing irritation, damage to the teat, and prone to develop mastitis in these injured spots.
Regular SCC testing helps identify mastitis early and maintain milk quality standards.
Recommended monitoring frequency:
Routine SCC monitoring allows milk unions, dairy cooperatives, and processors to identify quality issues early, support mastitis control programs, reduce milk quality losses, and improve overall milk quality across the procurement network.
Somatic Cell Count is more than just an udder health indicator—it is a direct measure of milk quality and performance across the dairy value chain. Elevated SCC levels can reduce milk yield, affect product quality, lower processing efficiency, and increase economic losses associated with mastitis.
Summer and monsoon create ideal conditions for bacterial growth and heat stress, making SCC management even more critical during these seasons. Through regular SCC monitoring, farmer awareness programs, improved hygiene practices, and effective mastitis control measures, dairies can safeguard milk quality, improve processing performance, and reduce quality-related losses across the procurement network.
For dairies focused on delivering high-quality milk and value-added dairy products, SCC monitoring should be an integral part of milk quality management programs throughout the year.
A proactive SCC monitoring program not only supports better mastitis control but also helps dairies ensure consistent product quality, higher processing efficiency, and stronger consumer confidence.
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