What is Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and Bactoscan?
On a grass-based, spring-calving dairy farm, somatic cell count (SCC) and Bactoscan are two critical indicators of milk hygiene and udder health. They are regularly measured to ensure the milk is safe, high-quality, and meets processor standards — all while helping farmers monitor the wellbeing of their cows. Here’s what they mean and why they matter:
The SCC and Bactoscan Process
• SCC measures the number of somatic cells (mostly white blood cells) present in a millilitre of milk.
• These cells are part of the cow’s immune system and increase when the udder is fighting an infection, such as mastitis.
• A low SCC indicates a healthy udder; a high SCC is a warning sign of udder health problems, even if there are no visible symptoms.
Typical SCC thresholds:
• Under 200,000 cells/mL: Generally considered healthy.
• Over 200,000 cells/mL: Possible subclinical mastitis.
• Over 400,000 cells/mL: Often exceeds processor limits and may result in penalties.
• In a spring-calving system, most cows are calving and lactating at the same time, so keeping SCC low across the whole herd is crucial.
• High SCC milk can lead to milk rejection, penalties, or even loss of quality assurance certification.
Monitoring SCC helps:
• Identify individual cows with mastitis (clinical or subclinical).
• Make informed culling or treatment decisions.
• Maintain milk quality and udder health throughout the lactation cycle.
• Bactoscan measures the number of bacteria in a millilitre of raw milk.
• It’s an indicator of milk hygiene, both from the cow and from the milking process and equipment.
• A low Bactoscan means the milk is clean and handled hygienically; a high Bactoscan suggests problems with milking hygiene, cooling, or equipment cleanliness.
Typical Bactoscan levels:
• Under 50,000 cfu/mL: Excellent hygiene.
• 50,000–100,000 cfu/mL: Acceptable, but needs monitoring.
• Over 100,000 cfu/mL: Action needed — possible hygiene issue.
• On a seasonal, grass-based farm, milking intensity is high during peak lactation, so good milking hygiene is essential.
Bactoscan can flag:
• Dirty equipment or lines.
• Inadequate cooling of milk in the bulk tank.
• Poor teat preparation before milking.
• Environmental contamination, especially in wet or muddy conditions.
• Results are often returned from the creamery or milk processor daily or weekly.
Farmers use this data to:
• Treat or cull cows with persistently high SCC.
• Review milking routines and improve hygiene practices.
• Service and clean milking equipment regularly.
• Maintain milk recording to track cow-level SCC trends.
In Summary
On a spring-calving, grass-based dairy farm, SCC and Bactoscan are essential for producing high-quality milk and protecting animal health. SCC reflects udder health, especially mastitis risk, while Bactoscan reveals the hygiene of the whole milking process. Regular monitoring of both helps farmers stay ahead of problems, keep the herd healthy, and produce clean, high-value milk — all while making the most of the grazing season.