Problem solving, using Somatic Cell Counts in dairy animals

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1. When to use what SCC recording method? *

a. Average, Mean or Median SCC are all the same thing and can be used to make up the BTSCC and herd SCC. A very useful bit of information and can be used at any time.

b. Quarter, cow and BTSCC data are all separate entities and need to be used separately to correct specific problems in a herd.

c. SCC data has been replaced with LS and EC data, and is invalid for the future of tha dairy industry.

d. All forms of SCC data need to be put into perspective and context to ensure that the optimum information is achieved, e.g. BTSCC (weighted individual SCC data) is different to the herd SCC. It depends on what your goals are and what you are trying to monitor and address an existing problem.

e. None of the above.

2. What is the blind effect of carrying a small group of chronic high SCC animals?

a. Loss of genetic progression and no replacement stock, as keeping long lactation animals.

b. Contagious bacteria like Staph. aureus pushes up SCC and not taking into consideration the risk for the remainder of the herd.

c. Perception of the value of milk volume over milk quality

d. +/- 20% of the herd contributing 80% of the problem

e. All of the above

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3. Is the linear score more appropriate for the farmer than the individual cow SCC?

a. Both have their values in the management of udder health and the LS removes some of the errors of interpretation (averages) when taking individual cow data and comparing it to the herd.

b. The LS is only valid for veterinarians.

c. Linear score has replaced the SCC.

d. All of the above

e. None of the above

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4. What are the benefits of vaccination?

a. Improved health (targets specific antibodies and PMNs that result in improved opsonization and elimination of bacteria)

b. Decreased severity and duration of an IMI

c. Less milk lost (reduced damage to glandular tissue)

d. All of the above

e. None of the above

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5. Is it possible to use early SCC detection methods to manage udder health?

a. No, alternative SCC monitoring tools are not scientifically reliable due to varying factors like milk temperature, age and stage of lactation causing changes in the SCC results.

b. Yes, CMCT and EC are tools that detect variations in milk that correlates to increases in SCC which fall in line with the occurrence of new IMIs.

c. Yes, the tools are just very expensive or labour intensive and are not always practical for commercial herds.

d. All of the above.

e. None of the above.

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6. Milking routine can affect the SCC, does the routine differ between the parlour types?

a. Yes, different staff (personalities, skills, cultures, etc.) for different types of parlours.

b. Yes, different parlours allow for complete or incomplete milking routines (skipping steps).

c. Yes, a cow milks quicker in a rotary milking parlour so not all the steps can be achieved to keep up with the speed of the system.

d. No, the farmer choses what to do or not do from the standard milking routine so parlour does not have an effect of SCC.

e. Yes, the farmer choses what to do or not do from the standard routine, but the parlour type can still have an effect on SCC due to differences in vacuum settings, ACR settings, size of parlour, cow comfort win waiting areas, etc.

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7. Cow comfort such as heat stress and bedding can have an effect on the SCC of a dairy animal. What other factors contribute to elevated SCC levels?

a. Environmental (season/weather), animal (species, age, diseases, vaccination), milking routine (timing and types of steps) and machine parameters (settings, services and types) all have an effect.

b. Species

c. Feed

d. Bacterial type

e. None of the above

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8. At what SCC level is mastitis diagnosed according to the IDF?

a. A high SCC is an IMI when it is > 200 000cells/ml.

b. A high SCC is not the only indication of an IMI, and mastitis needs a positive bacterial culture and an SCC > 500 000cells/ml.

c. A high SCC is an IMI when it is > 250 000cells/ml.

d. A higher SCC is not the only indication of an IMI, and mastitis needs a positive bacterial culture and an SCC. 200 000cells/ml.

e. None of the above as mastitis is only determined by a positive bacterial culture.

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9. Does SCC have an effect on reproduction parameters?

a. Yes, The SCC elevations mean that the uterus is not properly prepared for pregnancy/conception due to the immune system being diverted to an udder problem (direct effect).

b. No, It is the other way around and pregnancy/conception affects milk production and will determine a cow’s SCC level.

c. Yes, The SCC elevation will be an indicator of a problem (mastitis/cow comfort stress) being experienced by the cow, which is what actually has a negative effect on pregnancy/conception, due to diverting energy to drive the immune system instead (indirect effect).

d. No, They are separate organs that have separate immune systems.

e. None of the above.

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10. Heifers and dry cows are important groups of animals on a farm. What is important of the individual cow SCC data when monitoring udder health?

a. IMI cure rate

b. Antibiotic selection

c. The effect of dry cow therapy (e.g. cure rates) or the risk of an IMI due to the management practices surrounding steam up (e.g. environment).

d. Fresh cows will always have elevated SCC levels.

e. None of the above

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