ABSTRACT
This study was designed to evaluate the effects of somatic cell count (SCC) on milk quality from 13 dairy farms according to federal regulations of Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Agriculture Ministry of Brazil). Three hundred and one samples of type C milk were collected by hand and by milking machine. The samples were tested for physicochemical, cytological (SCC) and aspects. The results showed SCC ranging from 400,000 to 1,000,000 cells/mL; acidity varied from of 19.03 to 19.40ºD; total fat (3.34% to 3.56%); total solids (12.04% to 11.89%); solids not fat (8.53% to 8.17%); lactose (4.43% to a 4.48%); protein (3.06% to 3.12%) and the bacterial count (1.8 x 109 to 4.0 x 109mL). According to federal regulations no differences in physicochemical and cytological (SCC) patterns of milk were found in these samples, but a continuous education program must be installed in this area to provide milk quality.
KEY WORDS
Somatics cells count; milk; cow