498 Scholars Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences e-ISSN 2348–1854 Sch J Agric Vet Sci 2017; 4(11):498-503 p-ISSN 2348–8883 ©Scholars Academic and Scientific Publishers (SAS Publishers) (An International Publisher for Academic and Scientific Resources) Study on The Bulk Milk Somatic Cell Counts and Milk Quality in Different Seasons Ahmad Azmi Khoirul Umam 1 , Mei-Jen Lin 2 , Lilik Eka Radiati 3 1 Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan; Department of Animal Science, Brawijaya University, Indonesia 2 Department of Animal Science, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan 3 Department of Animal Science, Brawijaya University, Indonesia Original Research Article *Corresponding author Ahmad Azmi Khoirul Umam Article History Received: 13.11.2017 Accepted: 25.11.2017 Published: 30.11.2017 DOI: 10.21276/sjavs.2017.4.11.10 Abstract: The aim of this study were to investigate the effect of bulk milk somatic cell count on milk quality of Holstein-Friesian cows, to evaluate a seasonal factor that influences bulk milk somatic cell count and milk quality and to understand a relationship between bulk milk somatic cell count and milk quality. Milk Samples were collected from dairy farms at Pingtung, Taiwan during December 2016 to June 2017. All samples were analyzed for protein, fat, lactose, pH, titratable acidity, ionic calcium, ethanol stability, and total bacterial count (TBC). Milk samples from bulk tank in dairy farms were allotted into 3 groups according to total SCC, including group 1 with SCC below 200×10 3 /mL, group 2 with SCC ranged from 200×10 3 to 500×10 3 /mL, and group 3 with SCC ranged from 500×10 3 to 750×10 3 /mL respectively. The somatic cell count of bulk milk (BMSCC) influenced the milk quality in the dairy farm. The bulk milk with higher BMSCC showed higher fat, protein, ionic calcium content, pH, and TBC (p<0.01), and lower lactose content and ethanol stability (p<0.01). Total bulk milk somatic cell count between summer and winter season were significantly different (p<0.05). Differences among seasonal milk fat, lactose, and ionic calcium contents were siginificant (p<0.05). The highest bulk milk somatic cell counts were observed in summer season. Therefore, bulk milk somatic cell count level in the dairy farm showed a good indication for evaluating milk quality, including fat, protein, lactose, pH, ionic calcium, ethanol stability and total bacterial count. Keywords: bulk milk somatic cell count, Holstein-Friesian cows, milk quality, milk composition INTRODUCTION Mastitis is one of the most common diseases in dairy cows and may result in great economic losses in the dairy industry [2]. Mastitis is defined as a mammary gland inflammation that is generally caused by bacterial infections. Mastitis remains as one of the top diseases that affects milk production. While cows with clinical mastitis can be easily identified by visible changes in milk composition and physical examination of the udder. Detection of subclinical mastitis is based on bacteriological examination of milk and assessment of udder inflammation. For the latter, one possible indicator is somatic cell count (SCC), which reflects the disease-combatting response of the animal to the pathogen [13]. Somatic cell count is one of the most important factors in evaluating milk quality and udder health. When there is bacterial infection or udder inflammation, the number of somatic cell count (SCC) in milk increases [21]. Increasing SCC in milk reduces the quality of raw milk and dairy products. For example, high SCC is also related to protein quality, change in fatty acid composition, lactose, ion and mineral concentration, increased enzymatic activity and a higher pH of raw milk. SCC in milk is influenced by season, parity, age, stage of lactation, stress, milking interval, and environmental and managerial factors. The breed of cow also affects SCC in milk. However, the main factor affecting SCC is mammary gland infection [14]. Evaluating milk quality of dairy farm is based on bacteriological examination of milk and assessment of udder inflammation. For the latter, one possible indicator is somatic cell count (SCC), which reflects the disease-combatting response of the animal to the pathogen [13]. The bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) is an indicator of the milk quality of dairy farm supplied to the company. Therefore, the aim of this study were to investigate the effect of bulk milk somatic cell count on milk quality of Holstein-Friesian cows, to evaluate a