Certified Cheese Professional Practice Exam

What does a high Somatic Cell Count indicate about milk?

1. High levels of cream content

2. Presence of anti-bodies to fight infections

3. Low quality of the cheese

4. High lactose content

The correct answer is: Presence of anti-bodies to fight infections

A high Somatic Cell Count (SCC) in milk primarily indicates the presence of white blood cells, which are produced in response to infections or inflammation in the mammary glands of dairy animals, such as cows. Therefore, a high SCC reflects the body’s immune response to potential infections, often signaling the presence of mastitis, a common udder infection in dairy cows. When the body detects an infection, it sends white blood cells to the site to combat the invaders, leading to an increase in the somatic cell count. Thus, a high SCC is an indicator of the dairy animal's health status and the quality of milk being produced, which can affect its suitability for processing and consumption. In contrast, high levels of cream content, low quality of cheese, and high lactose content do not correlate with somatic cell count in a direct manner and are influenced by other factors unrelated to the inflammatory status of the milk.