The Association between Socioeconomic Profiles, Attitudes, and Knowledge of Dairy Farmers Regarding Somatic Cell Count and Milk Quality.

Simple Summary: Mastitis is a costly disease in dairy animals and significantly affects milk quality and quantity. The milk somatic cell count (SCC) is an acceptable method for diagnosing intramammary infections and evaluating the quality of milk. Mastitis is a multifactorial disease augmented by poor farm hygiene and milking practices. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand dairy farmers' knowledge about mastitis control, farm hygiene, milking practices, teat dipping, milk quality, milk SCC, the total bacterial count, social responsibility, etc., and its association with the bulk tank SCC using a structured questionnaire. The socioeconomic profiles, attitudes, and knowledge of farm managers from 63 dairy farms were analyzed. It was concluded that various parameters, such as the economic impact of mastitis, milking procedures, methods for subclinical mastitis detection, the awareness of the legal requirements of the SCC, and the total bacterial count (TBC), were associated with the SCC in bulk tank milk of dairy herds. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between the bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) and dairy farmers' knowledge about milk quality, mastitis control, and their socioeconomic characteristics. Additionally, we estimated the association between the bulk tank SCC and bulk tank milk hygienic quality in dairy herds. Bulk tank milk samples from 120 dairy herds enrolled in the milk quality payment program were collected for the determination of the SCC, the total bacterial count (TBC), the preliminary incubation count (PIC), the laboratory pasteurization count (PC), and the coliform count (CC). Based on the bulk tank SCC results, 63 herds were selected and categorized into three groups: (a) low SCC: ≤250,000 cells/mL (n = 16); (b) medium SCC: >250,000 ≤ 400,000 cells/mL (n = 24); and (c) high SCC: >400,000 cells/mL (n = 23). Socioeconomic profiles, attitudes, and knowledge of somatic cell count and milk quality were assessed using previously tested questionnaires, which were used to interview the herd managers of the 63 selected dairy herds. Among the findings, 87.0% of the dairy herds had an SCC < 400 × 103 cells/mL, and presented milk production as the main economic activity of the farm, whereas only 47.0% of dairy herds with an SCC > 400 × 103 cells/mL had milk production as the main economic activity of the farm (p < 0.031). In a total of 95% of the selected herds (n = 60), milking machines were used, with pipeline milking machines being more predominant, accounting for 70.8% in herds with a medium somatic cell count (SCC) and 78.3% in herds with a high SCC, as opposed to herds with a low SCC at 50% (p < 0.031). The frequency of dairy producers' awareness of the maximum legal requirements for the bulk tank SCC and TBC was higher in herds with a higher SCC than in herds with a medium SCC. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate a significant association between the bulk tank somatic cell count (SCC) and dairy farmers' knowledge about milk quality, mastitis control, and socioeconomic characteristics. These findings emphasize the importance of knowledge and the socioeconomic profiles of dairy farms in maintaining and enhancing milk quality in dairy herds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]