The annual report focusing on US Somatic Cell Counts from the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services revealed a 2014 average of 193,000 cells/mL in the four Federal Orders that collect SCC data.
That is unchanged over the past three years, but shows a decline from the 227,000 cells/mL found in 2009. According to APHIS investigators, over 99% of milk shipments monitored met the current Pasteurized Milk Ordinance Limit of 750,000 cells/mL.
However, less than 3% of milk shipments would have met the European Union criteria of 400,000 cell/mL, required for export.
The four Federal Orders that collect SCC data , and produce 48% of the US milk supply, include the Upper Midwest, Central, Mideast and Southwest.
The lowest average cell count of the four Orders was 179,000 cells/mL, found in the MidEast Order.
Housing in open lots and exposures to extremes in the weather have caused the Southwest Order to have the biggest fluctuation in milk quality over the past five years.
Source: AgWeb.Com