For many producers the first thought related to milk quality is the price premium or incentive they receive in each milk check.

While this additional revenue is a direct result of low somatic cell and/or bacteria counts, it’s critical that milk quality is managed for more than the premium. Because quality also has a great influence on animal health and performance, all areas of your operation must be considered if you are to meet the demands of milk quality guidelines and ensure the success of your dairy operation.

Research shows producers focus most on quality as it relates to premiums and incentives. In a variable milk quality premium program, the probability of producing milk with a bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC) of less than 200,000 cells per milliliter doubled when premiums were highest. On average, BTSCC was reduced by 22,000 cells per milliliter during the high-premium periods. As premiums dropped, cell counts gradually increased, proving less focus was placed on the value of low SCC.

What many may not realize is that milk quality influences a myriad of other important areas on the dairy. A decline in milk quality may be costly as it relates to cow performance and even though you won’t get a bill for it, it may have damaging effects on overall cow health and revenue generation if it is not managed as part of your overall management plan.

Research continues to show the effects milk quality can have on performance throughout the cow’s life cycle. An increased incidence of mastitis infections can have a detrimental effect on multiple areas, including:

• Performance throughout the lactation
Animals that experience a mastitis case early in lactation perform far below those that are mastitis-free. As Figure 1* shows, milk production drops dramatically during the first three months after calving when cows experience a case of mastitis. This impact on early lactation milk production will ultimately influence peak production levels and production for the remainder of the lactation.

• Reproductive performance
Cows that experience a case of mastitis have a harder time getting bred back. Increased days open and services per conception result in a pregnancy rate decline. The solid line in Figure 2* represents animals that did not experience mastitis during the lactation. The dotted line animals did. The proportion of nonpregnant cows is higher in the group that experienced mastitis than in the group that did not.

• Profitability
Cows that experience more frequent mastitis cases incur higher input costs due to additional veterinarian bills, antibiotic treatment, discarded milk and high labor costs.

Losses from declined mastitis
To show the value of milk quality beyond the premium, Table 1* is an economic evaluation comparing two herds – one with a successful mastitis control program and another with a higher somatic cell count and mastitis incidence rate.

As the calculation shows, the consequences can be significant when mastitis cases and somatic cell counts climb. While the financial losses can be staggering, remember that reproduction also declines, leading to greater financial losses through extended days open and additional services per conception.

Top-of-mind management
To avoid these large financial losses from high SCC and mastitis cases, keep milk quality top-of-mind throughout the year regardless of the premium by doing the following:

• Evaluate current situation
Is your somatic cell count or incidence of mastitis higher than you’d like? If so, there’s always the opportunity to make improvements. Identify potential problems by utilizing a record management system to target problem cows and identify trends over time. Another tool is teat end scoring, which can help identify the root of current problems.

• Discuss potential changes
Work with your milking equipment dealer, veterinarian and other consultants to identify areas where improvement can be made. These changes should be ones that will reduce somatic cell count and the number of mastitis cases in your herd.

• Set reasonable goals
When setting goals and making changes, put together the outcomes you expect to see and take time to assess the results. If somatic cell counts will drop to a point where additional premiums kick in, this may provide an opportunity to invest in additional technology to help maintain higher milk quality levels. While premiums shouldn’t be the only focus, they can help make investments in milk quality worthwhile.

A consumer-oriented product
We cannot lose sight of the importance placed on quality by the consumers who drive demand for our product. We must continue to provide consumers with a healthy product that provides nutrients necessary for bone growth and overall nutritional health. A decline in milk quality can have negative effects on how milk is currently viewed by the customer, increasing the potential risk of losing that customer.

Milk with lower somatic cell count has a longer shelf life as the enzymes generated by somatic cells break down the protein and fat leading to sour, rancid milk. Lower SCC also has been shown to boost cheese yields, leading to more cheese production from each pound of milk.

In the future, consider the milk check premium as an added bonus for all of your hard work to ensure milk quality meets rigorous standards. Maintain milk quality year ’round, regardless of the premium, to keep cows producing high volumes of milk, performing productively and returning the greatest revenue. PD

*Tables, figures and references omitted but are available upon request at editor@progressivedairy.com

Norm Schuring for Progressive Dairyman