Higher SCC have been observed in goat milk than in cow milk. This study evaluated the prevalence of high SCC and determined whether increased neutrophils were a factor in high SCC. Bulk tank goat milk samples were collected from commercial dairy goat herds in California, Arkansas, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Total SCC were determined using a Fossomatic Electronic Cell Counter and microscopically using pyronin Y-methyl green stain. Differential counts were determined using Wright's-stained cytospin centrifuge preparations. Average SCC were high (6.12 log10 cells/ml; geometric mean, 1.32×106 cells/ml). The average of the Fossomatic and direct microscopic SCC indicated that 8.6% of the producers had SCC <.75×106 cells/ml and that 34.5% were <1×l06 cells/ml. The current goat milk SCC standard is 1×106 cells/ml; the cow milk SCC standard will be .75×106 cells/ml in 1993. Milk samples contained 9.9% macrophages, 2.8% lymphocytes, and 87% neutrophils. These data indicate that high SCC were prevalent and that increased neutrophils contributed to high SCC in the bulk tank goat milk.