Cell content in goat's milk.

The geometric mean cell count of goat’s milk in mid-lactation was 880 × 10 cells/ml and 690 × 10 cells/ ml estimated by the Direct Microscopic Count (DMC) and the Electronic Cell Count (ECC), respectively. The numerous cell fragments in goat milk may have had an influence on the results obtained by the cell counting methods compared. A highly significant correlation (P < 0.001) existed between the results obtained by the above mentioned methods, and the California Mastitis Test. If routine surveys are done on milk samples of goats, a CMT score of 1, 2 or 3 should be regarded as normal in the mid-lactation. A higher CMT score may indicate an abnormal condition of the udder. In the diagnosis of mastitis in goats great attention should be paid to the difference in cell content between milk samples from halves of the same udder.