The Relationships Among Some Udder Traits and Somatic Cell Count in Holstein-Friesian Cows

This study was carried out to investigate the relationships between somatic cell count (SCC) and some udder traits in 129 head Holstein-Friesian cows (1st and 5th month of lactation) raised at 3 dairy farm in Kamislar Village in Bozdogan county of Aydin province, Turkey. Farms were visited monthly between July 2011 and June 2012, and about 1108 milk samples and different udder measures were taken in 50 +/- 20 days, 90 +/- 20 days, 130 +/- 20 days of lactation of each cow studied. Mean log(10)SCC were calculated as 4.9 +/- 0.003 (87.923). The overall results showed that dairy farms and month of year groups had a significant effect on log(10)SCC (P<0.01). Positive correlations among fore teats perimeter and log(10)SCC (0.11) in farm A and among and log(10)SCC distance between fore teats (0.12) and distance between rear teats (0.10) in farm B, were found at the level of P<0.01, respectively. The correlation between rear teats perimeter and log(10)SCC (-0.12) was found to be negative and statistically significant in farm C (P<0.01). Consequently, udder traits relevant to minimization or elevation of SCC should be carefully evaluated in selection studies.