Author
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Paape, Max |
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Submitted to: Ovis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2000 Publication Date: 3/20/2000 Citation: Paape, M.J. 2000. Situation Regarding the Legal Limit for Somatic Cell Counts in the United States. Ovis. pp. 13-23. Interpretive Summary: The control of abnormal milk is the most complex and expensive technical problem facing the dairy industry. The objective of an abnormal milk control program is to prevent abnormal milk from entering channels of human consumption. While the milk somatic cell count (MSCC) is an accepted procedure for evaluating cow milk, some question its use for goat milk. Factors other than intramammary infection such as management practices, stage of lactation, parity and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection contribute to an elevation of MSCC for goats. There is controversy in the United States (US) and European Union (EU) over an appropriate MSCC level. The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA recently proposed lowering the MSCC limit for goats to 750,000/ml. Currently, the MSCC limit is 1,000,000/ml in the US. A MSCC limit has not been established for the EU. The limit for cow milk is 750,000/ml in the US. Attempts to have it lowered to 400,000/ml over a 4 year period, comparable to the EU level, was defeated. Technical Abstract: There are 1.5 million dairy goats and 9 million dairy cows in the United States (US). The United States Pasteurized Milk Ordinance states that goat milk must contain less than 1 million cells/ml and cow milk 750,000 cells/ml. Data used to derive the standard for goat milk was obtained from studies with dairy cows. Environmental and physiological factors effect milk somatic cell counts (MSCC) for goats but not for cows. Most states us this standard but a few states with large populations of dairy goats, who recognize the problem of high MSCC for goats, do not require producers to meet this standard. Bulk tank MSCC for dairy cows in the US average 350,000/ml and for goats 700,000/ml. Approximately 50 to 65% of goat dairies in the US failed to meet the standard during early and later stages of lactation. Only 7% of cow dairies failed to meet the standard. Further, MSCC for cows are consistent throughout lactation. Many goat dairies are being forced out of business for failure to meet the one million cell count standard. Recent attempts to lower the standard to 750,000/ml, similar to that for cow milk in the US, failed. If passed, 90% of the goat dairies in the US would not be able to meet the new standard during early and late lactation. Mastitis researchers in the US feel that the MSCC is not an acceptable method for monitoring milk quality in goats. Research is underway to find a more acceptable alternative to MSCC for goat milk. Recent attempts to lower the MSCC for cows to 400,000, comparable to the European Union standard, failed. |
