ARC Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Volume-3 Issue-4, 2017, Page No: 34-40
Comparison of a Time Series Analysis of Bulk Tank Somatic Cell
Counts of Dairy Herds Located in Brazil and the United States
Liz Goncalves Rodrigues1,3, Maria Helena Cosendey de Aquino2,3, Marcio Roberto Silva4, Leticia Caldas Mendonca4, Juliana Franca Monteiro de Mendonca5, Guilherme Nunes de Souza2,4
1.Federal Agriculture Superintendence in the State of Alagoas, Maceio, Brazil.
2.Department of Public Health and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Federal
Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil.
3. Pos-Graduation in Veterinary Hygiene and Technology Processing of Animal Products, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Federal Fluminense University, Niteroi, Brazil.
4. Embrapa Dairy Cattle, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
5.Research Support Foundation of Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
Citation : Guilherme Nunes de
Souza,et.al, Comparison of a Time Series Analysis of Bulk Tank Somatic Cell Counts of Dairy Herds Located in Brazil and the United StatesARC Journal of Animal and Veterinary Sciences . 2017;3(4):34-40.
Abstract
Bulk tank somatic cell counts (BTSCC) is widely used to monitoring the mammary gland health at
the herd and regional level. A time series of BTSCC from specific regions or countries can be used to
compare the mammary gland health according to regions and estimate the trend of subclinical mastitis of
dairy herds at the regional level. This data support economic decisions related to mastitis control at the
regional herd level. Still, decisions at the regional or country level are mainly used to investigate the
efficiency of the mastitis control program. Three time series of BTSCC from dairy herds located in the USA
and the southeastern region of Brazil were evaluated from 1995 to 2014. The first and second USA time
series presented an increasing and decreasing trend for the annual geometric mean of BTSCC and the
percentage of dairy herds with BTSCC greater than 400,000 cells/mL, respectively. The Brazil time series
showed no decreasing trend for the annual geometric mean of BTSCC or for the percentage of dairy herds
with a BTSCC greater than 400,000 cells/mL; consequently, approximately 40 to 50% of the dairy herds from
southeastern Brazil will not achieve the regulatory limits for BTSCC of 400,000 cells/m Lover the next several
years.