With calving winding down across most farms, the focus is shifting from peak lactation management to breeding decisions—and that means cell counts need a…
Milk Recording Urgent Ahead of Breeding
With calving winding down across most farms, the focus is shifting from peak lactation management to breeding decisions—and that means cell counts need attention now. According to Cathal O’Shea writing for Agriland (April 2026), farmers who’ve yet to complete a milk recording this season should prioritise one within the next fortnight.
The first recording ideally happens within 60 days of the calving start date to assess dry-off and dry period performance, but O’Shea notes it’s not too late even if that window was missed. The data these recordings produce is important for identifying problem cows—those with consistently high somatic cell counts (SCC) that compromise both milk quality and breeding potential.
This matters enormously when deciding which cows to breed from replacements, particularly for farms using sexed semen. Breeding a high-SCC cow to premium genetics makes no sense when her daughters are likely to inherit mastitis susceptibility. The recording history reveals which animals have chronic issues versus one-off elevated counts from environmental stress.
Culling Strategy Requires Careful Balancing
The milk recording data gives farmers a clear picture of which cows simply aren’t worth carrying through another lactation. Farms with chronically infected animals—those repeatedly showing elevated SCC across multiple recordings—should seriously consider culling them before infection spreads further through the herd.
Factory prices have dipped from recent highs, but O’Shea argues they’re still relatively favourable compared to other years, making this a reasonable moment to cut losses on problem animals. The income from culling can offset the cost of raising replacement heifers from healthier, higher-yielding genetics.
However, culling decisions can’t be made in isolation. Farmers must assess whether they’ll have sufficient replacements to maintain herd size and check that culling won’t trigger nitrates banding issues. Not every infected cow can leave the farm immediately, but the worst offenders and repeat cases should be targeted first. The remaining high-SCC cows need careful management—inspection using California mastitis test (CMT) to identify the specific quarter affected, followed by appropriate treatment in consultation with your vet.
Cluster Hygiene Critical to Prevent Spread
For cows remaining in the herd with high SCC, cluster hygiene becomes paramount. Ideally these animals should be milked last to prevent transfer of infection from machine to machine, but this isn’t always practical in parlour routines. Where high-SCC cows are milked mid-batch, clusters must be disinfected after milking using peracetic solution.
O’Shea advises that clusters need proper treatment—correct concentration of disinfectant, used for no more than six or seven dips before the solution is refreshed. The next cows to use that cluster risk picking up infection if hygiene protocols slip. Culture and sensitivity testing on infected quarters is money well spent; it identifies which bacteria are causing problems and points towards the most effective treatment rather than guessing.
The breeding season countdown has already started on many farms. Getting cell count management right in the next few weeks determines udder health for the coming lactation and the genetic merit of the next generation of replacements. There’s no room for delay.
What This Means for UK Farmers
The timing here is tight for UK dairy farmers—breeding season waits for no one, and the decisions made in the next fortnight about which cows to breed, which to cull, and which to treat will shape herd performance for the next 12 months at minimum. This isn’t about chasing mastitis cure rates after the fact; it’s about making cold-eyed commercial decisions while the data from milk recording is still fresh.
For those who haven’t recorded yet, the cost of a recording is trivial compared to breeding a problem cow to expensive sexed semen or carrying through an animal that spreads infection across the entire milking parlour. The farms that consistently achieve low bulk tank SCC aren’t lucky—they’re systematic, and they act early. The breeding season is approaching fast.
What to Do Next
If milk recording hasn’t been completed, ring your milk recording agency today and book within 14 days. Review previous recordings to identify chronic high-SCC cows and mark them for discussion with your vet. Assess culling candidates against replacement inventory and nitrates position—don’t cull impulsively, but don’t carry dead weight either. For cows remaining in the herd with elevated counts, plan a CMT examination this week, arrange culture and sensitivity testing, and review parlour hygiene protocols to ensure clusters are disinfected properly between milkings. Finally, match your breeding list to your recording data—if a cow has had consistently high SCC across the past three recordings, she’s not a candidate for sexed semen, whatever her other merits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should milk recording be completed ahead of breeding?
The first recording should ideally happen within 60 days of the calving start date. If this hasn’t been done, farmers should aim to complete a recording within the next fortnight before breeding decisions are finalised.
How should high somatic cell count cows be managed in the parlour?
High-SCC cows should ideally be milked last to prevent infection spreading. Where this isn’t possible, clusters must be disinfected with peracetic solution after milking infected cows, using fresh solution for no more than six to seven dips per batch.
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