For the first 16 collections in June, somatic cell count (SCC) averaged 122,000 cells/ml on the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny. Half the results came back less than 100,000 cells/ml – good performance for the large herd. However, for the three most recent collections, somatic cell count (SCC) has taken a turn for the worst. It lifted to 250,000, 285,000 and 360,000 SCC for three collections on 26, 27 and 28 June.Thankfully yesterday, the most recent result came back and it had dropped back to 200,000 cells/ml. For the last four days since farm manager Tom Lyng and his colleagues noticed the cell count rise, have searched for the culprits. Effectively, they have been stripping out quarters to find the infected cows. They identified some quarters and depending on the situation have initiated treatment, or if its a recurring problem they have dried the quarter off.
For the first 16 collections in June, somatic cell count (SCC) averaged 122,000 cells/ml on the Greenfield farm in Kilkenny. Half the results came back less than 100,000 cells/ml – good performance for the large herd. However, for the three most recent collections, somatic cell count (SCC) has taken a turn for the worst. It lifted to 250,000, 285,000 and 360,000 SCC for three collections on 26, 27 and 28 June.
Thankfully yesterday, the most recent result came back and it had dropped back to 200,000 cells/ml. For the last four days since farm manager Tom Lyng and his colleagues noticed the cell count rise, have searched for the culprits. Effectively, they have been stripping out quarters to find the infected cows. They identified some quarters and depending on the situation have initiated treatment, or if its a recurring problem they have dried the quarter off.
The 200,000 SCC result for yesterday’s collection shows that they are making progress. Talking to Tom today, he said there are still some clots showing in the filter sock, so they will have to go searching again to find the infected quarter.
Milk quality
The milk quality results have improved again through June. Yesterday’s results came in at 3.8% protein and 4.48% fat. The cows are milking between 19 and 20 litres.
“If they go into a good paddock of aftergrass you easily get 20 to 21 litres per cow. If the paddock is a bit stale they will drop to that 19 litres. We are being collected almost on the day here because we are on a good truck route, so that makes it a bit more difficult in terms of calculating daily yield,” said Tom.
Effectively, depending on whether you use 19 or 20 litres it means the herd are averaging between 1.65 and 1.7kg of milk solids per cow per day. The TBC is excellent at 5.0 and the last thermoduric in early June came back at 60, that’s a good bit from 400 when alarm bells start ringing.
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