Effect of premilking teat sanitation on milk composition, somatic cell count and test day milk yield in Holstein cows

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to determine the efficacy of premilking teat sanitation applications on milk composition, somatic cell count (SCC) and test day milk yield (TDMY) in Holstein cows. The research was conducted in two private farms located in Hodmezovasarhely, South-Hungary. In the first trial, only water and drying application (WD) was practiced to 791 cows and in the second trial, disinfectant solution and drying application (DD) was performed to 1418 cows. Fat (F), protein (P) and lactose (L) were tested as the milk parameters and SCC and TDMY records were also evaluated. To investigate the effects of non-genetic factors on the parameters, four parity and three days in milk groups were designed. L, SCC and TDMY were affected by parity in both applications, and P affected by DD (P<0.01). All traits were affected by DIM in both applications (P<0.05 or P<0.01). While positive correlations were estimated between F and P; F and SCC; P and SCC; L and TDMY; the negative correlations were determined between F and L; F and TDMY; P and L; P and TDMY; L and SCC; SCC and TDMY. The means of F, P and SCC were higher in DD, but L and TDMY were higher in WD (P<0.05). The study revealed that cleaning the udder using plenty of water and drying the teats with clean clothes are suggested to dairy owners as a preferential premilking application to obtain high quality milk.