Somatic Cell Counts

What does Mistral do?

Mistral absorbs moisture from the area where the cow’s udder comes into contact with the stall she is lying in.  Controlling the moisture around the udder will decrease pathogens at the teat ends.  The less pathogens that enter the udder, the less infection and lower somatic cells you will achieve.  Mistral will also moisturize teat ends from minerals that are in the powder.  This will allow you to experience higher milk yields, better milk quality, higher milk premiums, and less cases of clinical mastitis.

Mistral in reducing somatic cell counts (scc) and mastitis

Mastitis is the most costly of all dairy related diseases. Sub clinical mastitis is the most economically important type of mastitis due to the long term effects of chronic infections on total milk yield, milk quality, and discarded milk.     

Mastitis is caused by pathogens, which are found everywhere in the environment, that enter through the cow’s teat canal and infect the udder. Pathogens that most frequently cause mastitis from the environment include e-coli and species of streptococci. 

Like other living things, single celled pathogens (bacteria etc.) require food, water, and the correct temperature to live.  Under ideal conditions, these pathogens will multiply by splitting their single cell and becoming two separate one celled individuals.  If any one of the life requirements are eliminated or decreased, the pathogen will die.  Food from the environment is everywhere, especially in organic bedding materials such as straw, sawdust and wood chips. The range of temperatures in animal housing is well within parameters to support life and the growth of microorganisms.  This leaves us moisture, the factor that managers can have the biggest impact on in controlling the environment pathogens live in.  By reducing moisture, the number of pathogens that cause mastitis are decreased in the environment that the cow lives.

Mastitis and Milk Yield

Somatic cells are white blood cells found in milk that have been shed by the cow’s udder to fight off pathogens.  Chronic long term udder infections from contagious pathogens overcome somatic cells and damage milk secretory cells (cells that produce milk) and thus decrease production.

 Mastitis and Milk Quality

 Somatic cells in milk reduce quality and quantity of milk protein, thereby reducing cheese yields and the shelf life of dairy products in stores.  This is the reason for somatic cell premiums from milk plants.