GB milk hygiene

Updated 23 February 2026

Average somatic cell count and bactoscan levels for GB are reported, based on an AHDB survey of dairies, covering approximately 2/3 of milk production. 

If you're interested in joining our survey sample, email Martin Doherty at martin.doherty@ahdb.org.uk

Overview

• Bactoscan levels for January averaged 28,000/m litres, which is 2,000/m litres lower than the previous month and 1,000/m litres higher than the same month last year 
• Average Bactoscan levels for the 2025 year stood at 28,000/m litres, 1,000/m litres lhigher than the 2024 average
• Somatic cell count (SCC) levels averaged 141,000/m litres in January, the same as the previous month and 1,000/m litres lower than the same month last year 
• The average cell count stood at 151,000/ml for 2025, 4,000/m litres lower than the 2024 average

Bactoscan 

Table 1. Bactoscan ('000 m litres) average by month and year

Source: AHDB

Figure 1. Bactoscan ('000 m litres) average by month and year for 2024, 2025 and 2026, including the three-year average

Source: AHDB

The blue dot in Figure 1 represents Jan 2026. Dark blue line = 2025, light green line = 2024, brown line = three-year average. All series are lowest around May and rise toward late summer and autumn, with the highest values seen from August to November

Somatic cell count 

Table 2. Somatic cell count ('000 m litres) average by month and year

Source: AHDB

Figure 2. Somatic cell count ('000 m litres) average by month and year for 2024, 2025 and 2026 including the three-year average

Source: AHDB

The blue dot in Figure 2 represents January 2026. The dark blue line = 2025, the light green line = 2024, the brown line = three-year average. All series rise steadily from January, peak in August or September, then fall sharply toward December.

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis team.

If you need any further help, please email Martin, Esther, Dorian or Gavin at datum@ahdb.org.uk

Download dataset

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