Effect of the stage of lactation on somatic cell counts in healthy goats (Caprae hircus) breed in Brazil

The objective of the present trial was to evaluate the effect of the stage of lactation on somatic cell counts (SCC) in milk produced by healthy goats. Forty goats that presented no clinical signs of udder inflammatory process, and whose milk was negative in bacteriological examination were used. All animals were kept in the same management system and received the same diet. They were submitted to monthly collections of milk for 8 months. Milk was analyzed by means of the California Mastitis Test (CMT), automatic SCC and bacteriological examination. The following values were recorded from the first to the eighth month of lactation: 2.56, 4.42, 3.45, 8.52, 5.96, 5.84, 6.41 and 6.51 × 105 somatic cells/mL of milk, respectively. When the first trimester and the period between the fifth and the eighth month of lactation were compared, there was an increase in cell counts. Percentage of 1+, 2+ and 3+ CMT reactions increased from the sixth month of lactation on. Results showed that there was an increase in the number of somatic cells in milk as lactation went by, which was demonstrated by both counting methods.