Raw cow milk quality: Relationship between antibiotic residue and somatic cell count

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between antibiotic residues and somatic cell count (SCC) value in raw cow milk. The milk samples (n = 200) were randomly collected during summer and winter seasons from dairy farms in Tabriz. In this study presence of antibiotic residues in raw cow milk, evaluate SCC value, and relationship between milk SCC and antibiotic residue value in raw milk were investigated. All samples were examined by Copan milk test and somatic cell counter, also relationship between SCC and the risk of antibiotic residue violation was determined. Out of 115 samples were positive for antibiotic residues. Antibiotic residue in winter season was significantly higher than in summer season (P 0.05). Also SCC rate was considerably high during winter season compared with summer samples (P 0.05). The SCC value was significantly higher for milk samples with positive antibiotic residue (P 0.05). The results showed a positive significant correlation (P 0.01) between antibiotic residue and SCC (r² = 0.305, P = 0.002). According to adverse effects of antibiotic residues, which can be considered an important factor threatening human health and numerous losses that would caused in the milk industry, this seems to be a need for more studies to determine the exact type of antibiotic residue in milk consumption in this province.