Herd features and management practices associated with high bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) were studied in 175 dairy herds enrolled on BMSCC programs. Herds data were obtained from June/2000 to December/2001 by questionnaires application. Herds were classified according to the geometric mean of six consecutive BMSCC records. Exploratory analysis and logistic regression models were the statistical analysis applied. Procedures about mastitis control and prevention were adopted in a few herds. Type of milking (machine or hand milking), herd age, milking place (milking parlour, pen, corral) and strip test practice (first streams of milk) were not associated with high BMSCC. Factors associated with high BMSCC were the following: do not milk clinical mastitic cows at the end of milking, feeding cows at milking and absence of post milking teat disinfection.
bovine; mastitis; risk factors; bulk milk; milk somatic cell
