• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.120-123
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• 2010

The standard method for somatic cell counts in goat milk is the direct microscopic method after a pyronin Y-methyl stain. It has been reported, however, that are found to differ by measuring methods, but. A total of forty eight goat milk samples from eight farms were compared by pyronin Y-methyl stain, ADAM-SCC in National Institute of Animal Science, and Somacount 500 in Chungbuk Veterinary Service. The average SCC of the samples was $7.3{\times}10^5$ cells/mL by pyronin Y-methyl stain, $4.9{\times}10^5$ cells/mL by ADAM-SCC, and $11.6{\times}10^5$ cells/mL by Somacount 500. The correlations between the methods were not significant. SCC measuring equipment should be developed for reducing the SCC in goat milk, and pyronin Y-methyl green stain for estimating SCC in goat milk should be included in NVRQS Notice for livestock products processing and composition standards.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of gene polymorphisms and nongenetic factors on the somatic cell score (SCS) in the milk of Holstein (n = 148) and Simmental (n = 73) cows and their crosses (n = 6). Methods: The SCS was calculated by the formula SCS = log₂(SCC/100,000)+3, where SCC is the somatic cell count. Polymorphisms in the casein alpha S1 (CSN1S1), beta-casein (CSN2), kappa-casein (CSN3), beta-lactoglobulin (LGB), acyl-CoA diacylglycerol transferase 1 (DGAT1), leptin (LEP), fatty acid synthase (FASN), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 6 (AGPAT6) genes were genotyped, and association analysis to the SCS in the cow's milk was performed. Further, the impact of breed, farm, year, month of the year, lactation stage and parity on the SCS were analysed. Phenotype correlations among SCS and milk constituents were computed by Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: Only CSN2 genotypes A¹/A² were found to have significant association with the SCS (p<0.05), and alleles of CSN1S1 and DGAT1 genes (p<0.05). Other polymorphisms were not found to be significant. SCS had significant association with the combined effect of farm and year, lactation stage and month of the year. Lactation parity and breed had not significant association with SCS. The phenotypic correlation of SCS to lactose content was negative and significant, while the correlation to protein content was positive and significant. The correlations of SCS to fat, casein, nonfat solids, urea, citric acid, acetone and ketones contents were very low and not significant. Conclusion: Only CSN2 genotypes, CSN1S1 and DGAT1 alleles did show an obvious association to the SCS. The results confirmed the importance of general quality management of farms on the microbial milk quality, and effects of lactation stage and month of the year. The lactose content in milk reflects the health status of the udder.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.748-756
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of using a tunnel ventilation system within the dairy barn environment upon the productivity of dairy cows during the winter season. Methods: The study was performed at the University Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Utsunomiya University. Twenty-one Holstein dairy cows (5 heifers and 16 multiparous) were enclosed in a stall barn. Unventilated (UV) and tunnel-ventilated (TV) was operated by turns every other week, and a number of key parameters were measured in the barn, including tunnel ventilation output, temperature, relative humidity, gas concentrations (oxygen [$O_2$], carbon dioxide [$CO_2$], and ammonia [$NH_3$]). Also, skin and rectal temperature, respiratory rate, blood gas concentrations, and bacterial count were measured from nipple attachments on ten cows. The amount of fodder left uneaten, and general components and somatic cell count of the milk were measured. Results: As for our dairy barn environment, air temperature dropped significantly with the passage of time with TV. Humidity was significantly higher with TV at 0600 h compared to UV, while $CO_2$ and $NH_3$ concentrations with UV were significantly higher than with TV at 0000 h and 0600 h. Skin temperature was significantly lower with TV compared to UV at 0000 h and 0600 h. Respiratory rate was also significantly lower at 0600 h with TV than with UV. Bacterial count for the nipple attachments was significantly lower with TV than with UV at 0600 h. The amount of leftover fodder was significantly less with TV in comparison with UV. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a TV system in the winter barn results in environmental improvements, such as reductions in unfavorable gas concentrations and bacterial growth. Consequently, it is expected that barns utilizing a TV system will be beneficial for both animal health and production.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.372-377
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• 2001

A study on the prevalence and causes of sub-clinical mastitis was conducted on ten smallholder and large-scale dairy farms in Morogoro urban and peri-urban areas. A total of 65 lactating cows were screened using the California Mastitis Test (CMT). Confirmatory tests used included; the direct microscopic somatic cell count (DMSCC), culture, bacteriological and biochemical tests. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on management aspects. Results showed 62% and 4% cows as sub- clinical and clinical mastitis cases respectively. Levels of infection were higher on smallholder farms (75%) than on large-scale farms (25%). All tested cows had high cell counts (>500,000) per ml of milk. Incidences of mastitis were significantly (p<0.05) related to milking practices. The dominant bacterial isolates in the same order were Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp, and Escherichia coli. Other organisms isolated included Pseudomonas spp and Klebsiella spp. It was concluded that the high rates of sub-clinical mastitis in the research area were mainly due to poor management and unhygienic milking practices.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.109-119
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• 1987

This Study was conducted to provide fundamental data necessary for the improvement of milk quality. Milk quality was evaluated by 3 methods; milk fat percent measurement, methylene blue reduction test (MBRT), and somatic cell count measurement. At the same time, condition of hygienic management of dairy facilities and cows was investigated in each of 234 dairy farms located in Gyunggi area from May, 1986 to April, 1987. The results were as follows 1. Average milk fat percents among farms were 3.67%, 3.64%, 3.43%, 3.48% in January, April, July and October, respectively. The diUerences of milk fat percent from month to month were statistically significant (p<0.005). and the seasonal average was 3.56%. 2. Numbers of farms which produced bulk milk of first grade by MBRT were 153(65.4%), 157(67.1%), 76(32.5%) and 141(60.2%) in January, April, July and October, respectively. The diUerences among months were statistically significant (p<0.005). Also, significant diUerences of grade by milking quantity (p<0.05), presence of milk cooler (p<0.01), and collection means (p<0.05) were demonstrated. 3. Number8 of farms which produced bulk milk of fir8t grade in somatic cell count measurement were 227(97.0%), 226(96.6%), 218(93.2%) and 223(95.3%) in January, April, July and October, respectively. And diUerences of grade by the pratice of teat dipping, dry cow therapy and manner in which udder washing towel was used statisticaJJy 8ignificant (p<0.01).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.11
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• pp.1514-1524
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• 2011

A total of 4,752 monthly lactation records of Friesian cows during the period from 2000 to 2005 were used to estimate genetic parameters and to determine the effect of udder health on milk production traits. Three milk production traits were studied: 305-day milk yield (305-dMY), 305-day fat yield (305-dFY) and 305-day protein yield (305-dPY). Four udder health traits were studied: somatic cell count (SCC), mastitis (MAST), udder health status (UDHS) with 10 categories and udder quarter infection (UDQI) with 7 categories. Mixed model least square analysis was used to estimate the fixed effects of month and year of calving and parity (P) on different studied traits. Sire and dam within sire were included in the model as random effects. Data were analyzed using Multi-trait Derivative Free Restricted Maximum Likelihood methodology (MTDFREML) to estimate genetic parameters. Unadjusted means of 305-dMY, 305-dFY, 305-dPY and SCC were 3,936, 121, 90 kg and 453,000 cells/ml, respectively. Increasing SCC from 300,000 to 2,000,000 cells/ml increased UDQI from 5.51 to 23.2%. Losses in monthly and lactationally milk yields per cow ranged from 17 to 93 and from 135 to 991 kg, respectively. The corresponding losses in monthly and lactationally milk yields return per cow at the same level of SCC ranged from 29.8 to 163 and from 236 to 1,734 Egyptian pounds, respectively. Heritability estimates of 305-dMY, 305-dFY, 305-dPY, SCC, MAST, UDHS, UDQI were 0.31${\pm}$0.4, 0.33${\pm}$0.03, 0.35${\pm}$0.05, 0.23${\pm}$0.02, 0.14${\pm}$0.02, 0.13${\pm}$0.03, and 0.09${\pm}$0.01, respectively. All milk production traits showed slightly unfavorable negative phenotypic and genetic correlations with SCC, MAST, UDHS and UDQI. There were positive and high genetic correlations between SCC and each of MAST (0.85${\pm}$0.7), UDHS (0.87${\pm}$0.10) and UDQI (0.77${\pm}$0.06) and between MAST and each of UDHS (0.91${\pm}$0.11) and UDQI (0.83${\pm}$0.07). It could be concluded that the economic losses from mastitis and high SCC are considerable. The high genetic correlation between SCC and clinical mastitis (CM) suggest that the selection for lower SCC would help to reduce or eliminate the undesirable correlated responses of clinical mastitis associated with selection for increasing milk yield. Additionally, it is recommended also that if direct information on under health traits is not available, measures of SCC can be inclusion in a selection criteria to improve the income from dairy cows.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.243-252
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• 2001

Milk constituents and somatic cell count (SCC) were analysed for 4,059 milk samples from 178 dairy farms from April to December in 1999. Correlations among each milk constituents, milk urea (MU) concentration and SCC in association with lactation stage, milk yield and parity, and balancing status of nutrients' supplies were analysed, and the results are summarized as follows; Averages of milk fat percent, total solids percent and milk yield were $3.72{\pm}0.91%$, $12.50{\pm}1.31%$ and $23.80{\pm}8.54kg$, respectively, whereas those were significantly lower during the summer season. In contrast, average of MU concentration was $0.0361{\pm}0.0006%$ which was significantly higher during the summer season. With milk yield, concentrations of fat, protein and SCC in milk decreased but concentrations of lactose and urea in milk and body condition score (BCS) were not altered. Concentrations of fat, protein, lactose, total solids, SNF, and urea in milk were significantly affected by stage of lactation ($P{\leq}0.0001$) but SCC was not changed. Parity of dairy cows had a significant effect on concentrations of fat ($P{\leq}0.02$), lactose ($P{\leq}0.0001$), total solids ($P{\leq}0.002$), and SNF ($P{\leq}0.0001$) in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0005$) but did not change concentrations of urea and protein in milk. Somatic cell count had significant positive correlationship with percentages of fat, protein and total solids ($P{\leq}0.0001$), respectively, but had negative correlationship with percentages of urea and lactose in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0001$). Milk urea concentration was negatively correlated with concentrations of protein, fat, total solids, and SNF in milk and milk yield ($P{\leq}0.0001$) and, according to regression analysis using milk urea concentration and SCC, following equation was obtained; $Y(MU)=3.688{\times}10^{-2}-4.04{\times}10^{-7}{\times}X(SCC{\times}1,000)(r^2=0.0038$, $P{\leq}0.0001$). We studied balance between protein and energy supplies to dairy cows in each farm based upon milk urea and protein concentrations, and results showed that 137 of total 178 farms fed cows unbalanced amounts of dietary protein and energy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1031-1031
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• 2001

The mammary gland is made up of remarkably sensitive tissue, which has the capability of producing a large volume of secretion, milk, under normal or healthy conditions. When bacteria enter the gland and establish an infection (mastitis), inflammation is initiated accompanied by an influx of white cells from the blood stream, by altered secretory function, and changes in the volume and composition of secretion. Cell numbers in milk are closely associated with inflammation and udder health. These somatic cell counts (SCC) are accepted as the international standard measurement of milk quality in dairy and for mastitis diagnosis. NIR Spectra of unhomogenized composite milk samples from 14 cows (healthy and mastitic), 7days after parturition and during the next 30 days of lactation were measured. Different multivariate analysis techniques were used to diagnose the disease at very early stage and determine how the spectral properties of milk vary with its composition and animal health. PLS model for prediction of somatic cell count (SCC) based on NIR milk spectra was made. The best accuracy of determination for the 1100-2500nm range was found using smoothed absorbance data and 10 PLS factors. The standard error of prediction for independent validation set of samples was 0.382, correlation coefficient 0.854 and the variation coefficient 7.63%. It has been found that SCC determination by NIR milk spectra was indirect and based on the related changes in milk composition. From the spectral changes, we learned that when mastitis occurred, the most significant factors that simultaneously influenced milk spectra were alteration of milk proteins and changes in ionic concentration of milk. It was consistent with the results we obtained further when applied 2DCOS. Two-dimensional correlation analysis of NIR milk spectra was done to assess the changes in milk composition, which occur when somatic cell count (SCC) levels vary. The synchronous correlation map revealed that when SCC increases, protein levels increase while water and lactose levels decrease. Results from the analysis of the asynchronous plot indicated that changes in water and fat absorptions occur before other milk components. In addition, the technique was used to assess the changes in milk during a period when SCC levels do not vary appreciably. Results indicated that milk components are in equilibrium and no appreciable change in a given component was seen with respect to another. This was found in both healthy and mastitic animals. However, milk components were found to vary with SCC content regardless of the range considered. This important finding demonstrates that 2-D correlation analysis may be used to track even subtle changes in milk composition in individual cows. To find out the right threshold for SCC when used for mastitis diagnosis at cow level, classification of milk samples was performed using soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) and different spectral data pretreatment. Two levels of SCC - 200 000 cells/$m\ell$ and 300 000 cells/$m\ell$, respectively, were set up and compared as thresholds to discriminate between healthy and mastitic cows. The best detection accuracy was found with 200 000 cells/$m\ell$ as threshold for mastitis and smoothed absorbance data: - 98% of the milk samples in the calibration set and 87% of the samples in the independent test set were correctly classified. When the spectral information was studied it was found that the successful mastitis diagnosis was based on reviling the spectral changes related to the corresponding changes in milk composition. NIRS combined with different ways of spectral data ruining can provide faster and nondestructive alternative to current methods for mastitis diagnosis and a new inside into disease understanding at molecular level.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.231-238
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• 2012

The expression profiles of inflammatory cytokines viz. interleukins (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-12, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor, interferon-${\gamma}$ and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ in response to subclinical mastitis in indigenous cattle breed Kankrej (n = 6), Gir (Bos indicus) (n = 12) and crossbred (Bos taurus${\times}$Bos indicus) (n = 7) were investigated using quantitative real time PCR. Significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between total bacterial load and somatic cell count (SCC) in all three breeds of cattle. All the cytokines were observed to be up-regulated compared to cows with healthy quarters, however, level of their expression varied among three breeds of cattle. In Kankrej most cytokines were found to be transcribed to higher levels than in other two breeds; the milk had higher load of bacteria but not so high SCC, implying that Kankrej has a higher inherent resistance against mastitis. The results of present study indicated that mammary glands of crossbred cattle are more sensitive to bacterial infection than indigenous breed of cattle as they elicit immune response at lower bacterial load and result into higher SCC. Research on identification of factors responsible for differentially expressed cytokines profiles and use of cytokines as immunomodulatory tools can pave way for formulating control strategies against bovine mastitis.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.733-736
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• 1992

Different parameters of subclinical mastitis were compared in 327 cattle and 493 buffaloes and the effect of immunopotentiating agents on subclinical mastitis in these animals was studied. Subclinical mastitis was detected in 8.2 percent buffalo and 24.0 percent cow quarter by modified whiteside test (MWT). In both the species there was decrease in lactose contents with increase in the degree of MWT reactivity i.e. $4.8{\pm}1.14$ to $2.31{\pm}0.82$ in cattle and $5.01{\pm}1.47$ to $2.36{\pm}1.02$ in buffaloes. While the chloride contents of the milk increased with increase in the MWT reactivity i.e. $0.19{\pm}0.4$ to $0.30{\pm}0.06$ in cattle and $0.20{\pm}0.04$ to $0.31{\pm}0.13$ in buffaloes. Micro-organisms belonging to Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Streptococcus, Enterobacteria, Corynebacterium groups and yeasts were isolated from subclinical mastitis cases. Vitamin E and Levamisole cured 64.5 and 60.0 percent cases of subclinical mastitis in buffaloes but only 32.0 and 24.0 percent cases in cattle. Cure was not affected by the degree of MWT and the type of organisms involved.