Quarter-milk somatic cell count at calving and at the first six milkings after calving

Thirty cows were studied during the first six milkings after calving. Quarter foremilk samples were collected by the farmers at calving and at six subsequent milkings. Geometric-mean somatic cell count (SCC) decreased from 593,000 at calving to 126,000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. In quarters infected with major pathogenic bacteria, geometric-mean SCC was 3,229,000 cells/ml at calving, and 1,257,000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. In quarters infected with minor pathogenic bacteria, geometric-mean SCC was 1,000,000 cells/ml at calving, and 170,000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. In culture-negative quarters, geometric-mean SCC decreased from 306,000 at calving to 42,000 cells/ml at the sixth milking after calving. Quarter SCC can be used early postpartum to give an indication of intra-mammary infection status.