Is it possible to count the number of somatic cells (somatic cell count) based on the measurement of the electrical resistance of milk?
It is impossible! The instruments measuring how the electricity is conducted in milk do not count the somatic cells in a direct way. The changes in the resistance level and the number of cells are not directly interconnected. It should be acknowledged that decreasing resistance indicates a developing infection. It is a basic rule which is used to evaluate the health condition of the udder. However, the number of somatic cells reflects the reaction of the immunological system which is specific for each organism. The reaction of this system is a result of the level of stress which a cow is suffering from and good or impaired readiness to fight the infection. Such readiness determines the number of cells in milk and decides when the number of cells reaches a high level after the infection. The measurement of resistance with a manual instrument is a practical method to monitor the health of the udder quarters; however, additional analyses are always necessary in order to make a precise dia
