187. The effect of subclinical mastitis on the solids-not-fat content of milk

Abstract

The solids-not-fat content (expressed as a percentage of fat-free milk) has been determined for 247 samples of milk from the individual quarters of sixty-two cows. The samples were also examined bacteriologically for the presence of mastitis streptococci and 121 were found to be infected, 114 uninfected, and twelve “doubtful”. The solids-not-fat content of the uninfected samples varied from 8·24 to 10·28 and of the infected samples from 4·26 to 9·92. For the uninfected samples of the Shorthorn, Friesian, Ayrshire and Guernsey breeds it averaged 9·36, 9·11, 9·82 and 9·83 respectively, but in the infected samples only 8·44, 8·38, 8·28 and 9·49%. Of the 247 samples, 36 % were below 8·80 in solids-not-fat content. Of 121 infected samples, 63% were below while of the 114 uninfected samples only 9% were below this standard. Hence 88% of the samples below 8·80 were infected samples, thus showing that subclinical mastitis accounts for a very high percentage of samples low in solids-not-fat content. In these samples the average value for solids-not-fat was 7·93%. The few uninfected samples that were low in solids-not-fat averaged 8·56%.