Cow factors related to the increase of somatic cell count after introduction of automatic milking.

Cow somatic cell count (SCC) was studied on 15 farms changing from conventional to automatic milking. SCC was significantly higher and milk yield was significantly lower after installation of the AM-system. Fresh cows ( 300 days in milk) and in cows of second, third and higher than fourth parity. It is concluded that fresh cows should receive more attention when changing to automatic milking. Introduction As part of the EU project on Automatic Milking a study was carried out in The Netherlands, United Kingdom and Denmark on “Health of dairy cows milked by an automatic milking system”. In each country 15 farms were recruited that were changing from conventional to automatic milking (AM). These farms were studied intensively. General aspects of herd health were studied on these farms from a few months before until one year after installation of the automatic milking system (AMsystem). Attention was paid to udder health, teat condition, lameness, body condition and fertility. In The Netherlands additional attention was paid to individual cow somatic cell counts (SCC). From other studies it is known that the bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) increases on farms after installation of an AM-system (Rasmussen et al, 2002; Vorst & Hogeveen, 2000). Cow SCC has also been found to increase on farms that installed an AM-system (Kruip et al, 2002; Rasmussen et al, 2001). Rasmussen et al (2001) found a peak in SCC at about two months after installation and also concluded that the mean cow SCC in the year after installation was higher compared to the year before. However, it is not described in either study which specific cows had an increase in SCC. It is important to know if particular cows should receive extra attention after changing over to AM. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to characterise the cows that show an increase in SCC after the introduction of AM.