The subclinical mastitis occurrence and the relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) with parity, milk yield and milk chemical composition, were studied in Holstein cows. The study was carried out in farms belonging to the milk control program of the Associação de Criadores de Gado Holandês de Minas Gerais. Data on lactation order, subclinical mastitis, SCC, milk production, fat contents and total protein contents were analyzed. There was a negative correlation between SCC and milk production and, correlations between SCC and percentage of fat and protein were positive. Higher lactation order cows showed higher SCC, and cows with SCC higher than 100,000 cels/ml showed less milk production.
dairy cattle; somatic cell count; mastitis; milk yield
