Determination of Milk Production Characteristics and Milk Losses Related to Somatic Cell Count in Jersey Cows Raised in the Black Sea Region of Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the Milk Production Characteristics (MPC) and to estimate milk losses related to Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in Jersey cows raised in Turkey conditions. In total, 330 cows were examined between January and December 2005. The SCC analysis were performed by direct microscopy and MPC values were calculated by Holland method. Effect of parity on MPC parameters were significant (p<0.001). While Lactation Length (LL), daily Milk Yield (dMY), Lactation Milk Yield (LMY) and 305 daily Milk Yield (305 dMY) were estimated as 274.8 +/- 4.2 d, 11.6 +/- 0.1, 3219.7 +/- 63.9 and 3457.3 +/- 46.4 kg, respectively, MPC levels tended to rise with later parities. Milk losses were lowest in first parity cows and losses (%) in dMY, LMY and 305 dMY were 14.96, 14.83 and 13.95, respectively. In conclusion, husbandrial practices related to herd management should routinely be checked by dairy farmers to obtain higher quality milk and to minimize milk production losses.