The influences on somatic cell count in goat milk in Slovenia

Milk recording in Slovenia is performed according to the ICAR method A4. Daily milk production in Saanen and Alpine goats was measured once a month using the following parameters: milk yield, somatic cell count (SCC), percentage of fat, protein and lactose. 3030 observations between March 1998 and November 1999 were obtained from 12 goat flocks participating in the national goat breeding program in Slovenia. The somatic cell count data were transformed to their logarithmic form (LSCC) to obtain the normal distribution. A mixed statistical model was used to test various effects on LSCC. Parity, stage of lactation and daily milk yield were independent variables. Year was included as a fixed effect, flock and animal (additive genetic effect) were treated randomly. The average daily milk yield was 1.94 kg. The average contents of milk fat, protein and lactose were 3.26%, 2.97% and 4.07%, respectively. Goat milk samples contained high LSCC and exceeded 6.00 (1x106 SCC ml-1) in 37%. The average LSCC was 5.85. LSCC was statistically affected by parity, stage of lactation and daily milk yield (P <0.01). Furthermore, the effects of flock (P <0.05) and animal (P <0.001) on LSCC were statistically significant.