Impact of somatic cell count combined with differential somatic cell count on milk protein fractions in Holstein cattle
Vittoria Bisutti, Alice Vanzin, Alessandro Toscano, Sara Pegolo, Diana Giannuzzi, Franco Tagliapietra, Stefano Schiavon, Luigi Gallo, Erminio Trevisi, Riccardo Negrini, Alessio Cecchinato
Abstract
-CN, β-CN, and α-lactalbumin, but in the opposite direction to SCS. We observed the same pattern with the qualitative data (i.e., %N), confirming opposite effects of SCS and DSCC on milk protein fractions. The PMN-LYM count was only slightly associated with the traits of concern, although the pattern observed was the same as when both SCS and DSCC were included in the model. The MAC count, however, generally had a greater impact on many casein fractions, in particular decreasing both β-CN content (g/L) and proportion (%N), and exhibited the opposite pattern to the PMN-LYM count. Our results show that information obtained from both SCS and DSCC may be useful in assessing milk quality and protein fractions. They also demonstrate the potential of MAC count as a novel udder health trait.