Effect of stress on somatic cell count and milk yield and composition in goats

[EN] There is little information about the effect of the stress on Somatic Cell Count (SCC) and milk yield and composition in goats. A total of 40 goats in their 4th month of lactation were assigned to two groups: stress (STR) and untreated (CON). Goats of STR were exposed to acute stress (visual and auditory stimulus from a barking dog for 20 min on day 0). After the stress, average values of plasma cortisol were higher in STR than CON (P = 3 goats (P = 3 goats (P = 3 produced 11% less milk compared with day 0 and, regarding milk composition, only lactose showed a significant drop. Stressed parity 1 + 2 goats showed no changes in SCC and milk yield and composition. We conclude that, in goats, stress is a non-infectious factor that can interfere in the use of SCC as an indirect method of intramammary infection (IMI) detection or, in bulk tank milk, as a commercial milk quality parameter.Mehdid, MEA.; Marti-De Olives, A.; Fernández Martínez, N.; Rodríguez Garcia, M.; Peris Ribera, CJ. (2019). Effect of stress on somatic cell count and milk yield and composition in goats. Research in Veterinary Science. 125:61-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.05.015S617012