Effects of Milk Age and Storage Temperature on Somatic Cell Count of Bovine Milk: A Case Study From Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of milk age (MA) and storage temperature (ST) on somatic cell count (SCC) of cow milk. Raw milk samples were taken from a milk cooperative in the Black Sea region of Turkey, with monthly visits throughout a year. All samples were evaluated by direct microscopy according to five different MA (1d, 2d, 5d, 8d and 15d) at refrigeration (RT) and freezing (FT) temperatures (+4 degrees C and -20 degrees C). When SCC of the samples belonging to different MA were compared by SCC of fresh milk, no statistical difference was found at RT, but SCC decreased significantly (P<0.001) at 8d and 15d post collection at FT. Highest SCC values were recorded in both RT and FT samples tested in the autumn season, and lowest SCC values were determined in the winter season, except for samples stored 2d at RT. The correlations among SCC values by MA were statistically significant (P<0.01) at both RT and FT. As the result, SCC of cow milk obtained from 15d post collection at RT and 5d post collection at FT can safely be used as the ones determined from fresh milk for assessing raw milk quality and controlling herd management programs.