Dry cow somatic cell counts (SCCs)

Number of cows stratified by SCC at the last test day before dry-off and the first test day after calving from an exemplary dairy herd. Using this table, the new intramammary infections (IMIs) over the dry period can be calculated as follows: number of cows with an SCC at dry-off < 200,000 cells/mL and an SCC at first test day after calving ≥ 200,000 cells/mL divided by the number of all cows with an SCC at dry-off < 200,000 cells/mL × 100 [(191/1,247) × 100 = 15%].

Similarly, the cured IMIs over the dry period can be calculated as follows: number of cows with an SCC at dry-off ≥ 200,000 cells/mL and an SCC at first test day after calving < 200,000 cells/mL divided by the number of all cows with an SCC at dry-off ≥ 200,000 cells/mL × 100 [(146/194) × 100 = 75%]. The goals for new IMIs and cured IMIs over the dry period are < 10% and > 80%, respectively.