Effects of temperature and storage duration on somatic cell counts (SCC) of milk samples were studied in a split plot design with seven replicates. Samples from 21 cows were maintained at 5, 27, 32 or 36ºC (plots) and analyzed after 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of storage (split plots). Based upon an initial analysis, samples were classified into three groups: low (236,000±164,000), medium (624,000±356,000) and high (1,320,000±945,000) SCC/ml. No significant differences in SCC (P>0.05) were observed among storage temperatures for milk samples tested after one day of storage. For milk samples stored at 5°C, SCC averages did not significantly change (P>0.05) until the seventh day after collection. On days 5, 5 and 3, respectively, average SCC decreased for milk samples stored at 27, 32 and 36°C. Reductions of 57.6% (from 236,000 to 100,000), 58.5% (from 624,000 to 259,000) and 27.5% (from 1,320,000 to 952,000) from initial numbers of somatic cells were observed for samples classified as low, medium and high, respectively. Milk samples must be kept under refrigeration until analysis, and SCC must be measured within 7 days of sample collection.
somatic cell count; milk quality; bovine mastitis; storage temperature; storage duration
