Relationship between Teat-End Shape, Teat-End Callosity and Somatic Cell Count in Dutch Dairy Goats

Abstract

A study in 5 herds, where 464 dairy goats were included, was set up to find out if there was a relationship between teat-end shape, teat-end callosity and somatic cell count (SCC) in dairy goats. During a visit all the teat-ends were scored on the rate of teat-end callosity thickness, teat-end callosity roughness and teat-end shape. Also milk samples were taken from each goat to determine the somatic cell count. Teat-end callosity thickness (TECT) was scored in a range from 1 to 5 where 1=no callosity ring and 5=extreme callosity thickness and it was found that TECT score 4 had a significant higher SCC than TECT score 1, TECT score 3 had a significant higher SCC than TECT score 2, TECT score 4 had a significant higher SCC than TECT score 2 and TECT score 4 had a significant higher SCC than TECT score 3. Teat-end callosity roughness and teat-end shape were found to have no significant influence on the somatic cell count.