Ask Our Vet Cell counts in fresh milk

Dear Prof McCrindle, I heard there is a quicker, more cost-effective way to monitor blood and white cells in bulk milk instead of doing somatic cell counts. It's called digital holographic microscopy and is much faster and more accurate. How does it work? Dairy Producer, Western Cape Dear Dairy Producer, If a dairy farmer waits for clinical signs of mastitis, when pain and swelling have already become obvious and the milk contains pus, it's too late and the cow must be dried off and treated. This is expensive, because her milk is discarded. Sometimes the cow may have to be culled, as damage to the udder is irreversible. High levels of somatic cells indicate damage to the udder, therefore a somatic cell count is done routinely on the 'fore milk'…

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Farmer's Weekly (Digital) - 1 Issue, 24 January 2025

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