Somatic cells of goat and sheep milk: Analytical, sanitary, productive and technological aspects

Abstract

This review covers recent scientific and technical publications on analytical, sanitary, productive, and technological aspects of somatic cell counts (SCC) in sheep and goat milk. It examines SCC as a measurement of sub-clinical and clinical mastitis conditions, SCC analytical methods, the effect of SCC on yield, composition, and physico-chemical parameters of sheep and goat milk, and their related dairy products. The literature shows the detrimental effects of mastitis on milk yield and composition, but also on cheese-making aptitude and quality of the products, especially for ewe milk cheeses. Using low SCC milk it is possible to recover more than 4% more protein in cheese making than from high SCC milk. SCC is a good tool for monitoring hygienic and sanitary quality of milk, but separate SCC standards for sheep and goat milk are necessary to optimize the productive and technological process and to account for the many non-pathological factors that cause wide variation in SCC, and which are different from those in cow milk. Evidence emphasizes the need to implement mastitis control programs in flocks and herds in order to improve the hygienic quality of milk and dairy products, and to increase the economic returns to producers and processors.