THE IMPACT OF HERD MANAGEMENT ON MILK QUALITY IN CATTLE

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of herd management practices on milk quality according to somatic cell count, standard plate count and electrical conductivity. The experimental work was carried out at El-Bayoumi dairy farms in Gamasa, Dakahlia Governorate at 2016. Managing cows parity, cows cleanliness score, stocking rate, feeding regime, stage of lactation, daily milk level and milking shift had a higher significant effect on milk hygiene (SCC, SPC and EC) whereas old cows, dirty body cows, overstocked cows, winter and summer feeding regime, higher yielders cows, early and last lactation cows and dirty milkers had a very poor quality milk (high in somatic cell count, high in Standard plate count and high in Electrical conductivity. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of herd management criteria on milk yield (daily milk yield and 305DMY), milk hygiene (SCC, SPC and EC) and milk composition (daily fat, casein, whey protein and lactose yield).