Reducing SCCs on Dairy Farms to Improve Profitability
Animal Science
Cassie Yost
Extension Educator
United States
Huntingdon
Abstract
Mastitis is one of the costliest diseases in the dairy industry, as it results in a drop in milk production, and increased labor and treatment costs. Somatic cell count (SCC) represents the number of white blood cells in the mammary gland and is correlated with mastitis. Most dairy farmers in Pennsylvania market their milk through cooperatives. Not all cooperatives, but many, offer incentives to keep SCC under a certain level, as elevated SCC can negatively impact the quality of processed dairy products. Many cooperatives also have a threshold that results in a deduction in milk price when SCC is elevated. If a farmer has consistently elevated SCC over a certain level, they may be in jeopardy of losing their milk market. Keeping SCC down is a priority for many dairy producers as it impacts milk quality and animal health. To assist farmers in keeping their SCC down, Pennsylvania dairy educators complete milking evaluation farm visits. During these visits, milking procedures are observed, and Vadia units are used to assess milking equipment. An individualized follow-up report is delivered with recommendations on how milk quality can be improved. The popularity and positive impact of milking evaluations led team members to apply for and receive a Farmer Partnership grant from Northeast SARE. This grant will allow educators to collect data from milking evaluations and host 3 workshops throughout the state. Findings from these evaluations will be presented at the American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting in 2026. Through this grant, dairy educators will be able to reach more producers throughout the state. Between March 16, 2024, and March 15, 2025, team members completed 32 milking evaluations in 18 counties throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland, impacting 4,507 cows. On average, these farm visits reduced SCC by 167,200, resulting in an average of $11,269 in profitability for farms. Not only has this made money for many farms, but it has also enabled many farms to remain in business.
Authors: Emily Fread , Cassie Yost, Ginger Fenton , daniela roland , Angela Breneman
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Emily Fread Dairy Educator , Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 17844
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Cassie Yost Extension Educator, Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 16652
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Ginger Fenton Dairy Educator , Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 16137
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daniela roland Dairy Educator , Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 17202
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Angela Breneman Dairy Educator , Penn State Extension , Pennsylvania, 17601