Simple and inexpensive management changes to reduce Bulk Milk Cell Counts are possible on virtually all farms that want to move to a higher milk payment band.

The BMCC gives a broad guide to the number of cows in the herd that have mastitis. A field rule of thumb is that for every 100,000 cells/mL of the BMCC, about 10% of the herd have subclinical mastitis. So herds that have a BMCC sitting around 200,000 cells/mL have about 20% of cows with subclinical mastitis.

Aiming for premium prices not only brings financial rewards from the factory, it also increases the herd productivity through improved udder health.

To guarantee that a premium BMCC will be reached on every supply day, your farm target should be at a BMCC level lower than the factory threshold.

This is because BMCC can vary depending on factors such as the level of milk production, the bacteria causing the mastitis, whether mastitis is spreading through the herd, and how vigilant milkers are in detecting clinical cases and diverting unsuitable milk.

So a safety margin is an important consideration. For example, if the factory threshold for premium payment is 250,000 cells/mL, aiming to have a BMCC around 200,000 cells/mL will give you a good buffer against natural variability.

Talk to your factory field officer or veterinarian if you want to climb the milk quality ladder. Countdown Downunder Farmer Short Courses also provide an opportunity to put together a management plan to achieve your milk quality goal. Ring 1800 777 530 for information about these courses.

Image and caption

 “The Bulk Milk Cell Count gives a rough guide to the level of mastitis in the herd”
(From Farm Presentation Kit #3 page 20)

Countdown Downunder Farm Guideline or Technote
Farm Guideline 11, 13.1

Keywords
BMCC, fluctuations, milk quality, target

Word length
253