Relationship between somatic cell count of milk and special parameters of milk flow curves of cows

Milk flow curves give extra information about the milkability of cows. 3634 milk flow curves of German Black Pieds from 5 farms with different housing conditions and hygienic levels were collected. The aim of the investigation was to describe the variability of milk flow parameters and the relationship between the special milk flow parameters and the somatic cell count of milk. Both the duration of plateau and the decline are of special interest, because these two parameters describe the milk delivery of all four udder quarters. The results show a significant influence of the farm, the number of lactations and the lactation stadium on the milk now parameters. Whereas the duration of plateau was more dependent on the conditions at the farm, the duration of decline was determined by animal related factors. Cows with very long duration of decline had the highest somatic cell count of milk. The reason for this is an irritation of the udder, caused by overmilking of individual quarters. A constant milk flow from all four quarters, characterized by a distinct plateau phase and a short decline phase lead to good udder health.