Factors affecting quality and quantity of milk
Factors affecting quality and quantity of milk A. Factors affecting quality of milk —The quality of milk a cow gives directly affects how much a farmer is paid for it. That’s why farmers go to such great lengths to assure quality of milk. Factors impacting the quality of milk a cow gives include: 1.Cow health 2.Somatic cell counts 3.Diet 4.Milk handling 1. Cow health —A cow’s health has the biggest impact on the quality of the milk it produces. —Just like humans, cows can catch illnesses such as a cold or flu. —They’re also susceptible to irritation or inflammation of their udders if stall conditions are poor. —Exposure to mud, manure and runoff can expose the herd to more pathogens, increasing incidents of infection. — Rainy seasons can predictably lead to higher somatic cell counts 2. Somatic cell counts —These are the best markers of cow health. —High somatic cell counts in milk indicate an increased presence of white blood cells—a signal that the cow is fighting