GB milk hygiene

Updated 18 December 2024

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. 

Interested in joining our survey sample?

Email Martin Doherty at martin.doherty@ahdb.org.uk

Overview

  • Bactoscan levels for November averaged 30,000/m litres, 2,000 m litres higher than the previous month, but 1,000/ml higher than the same month last year 
  • Average Bactoscan levels for the 2023 year stood at 28,000/m litres, 1,000/m litres higher than the 2022 average
  • Somatic cell count (SCC) levels averaged 151,000/m litres in November, 10,000/m litres lower than the previous month and 8,000/ml lower than the same month last year
  • The average cell count stood at 160,000/ml for 2023, no change to the 2022 average

Bactoscan ('000 m litres)

Average 26 27 26 27 28  
Month 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Jan 26 29 25 26 27 27
Feb 26 28 26 26 27 26
Mar 26 28 26 27 27 26
Apr 26 28 25 26 26 26
May 23 27 24 26 26 26
Jun 23 24 25 25 27 26
Jul 26 24 25 26 28 26
Aug 27 26 27 28 27 27
Sep 28 27 28 29 28 27
Oct 26 25 28 29 31 28
Nov 30 27 29 30 29 30
Dec 30 26 28 28 29  

Source: AHDB



Somatic cell count ('000 per m litres)

Month 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Jan 152 159 156 150 151 147
Feb 155 160 156 150 150 146
Mar 157 161 157 152 152 149
Apr 160 162 158 153 155 152
May 161 161 159 156 157 155
Jun 165 161 162 160 162 158
Jul 171 166 166 166 168 162
Aug 180 174 177 173 173 167
Sep 180 176 179 175 175 167
Oct 172 171 176 169 168 161
Nov 165 162 170 160 159 151
Dec 160 157 154 153 151  
Average 165 164 164 160 160  

Source: AHDB



Contact us

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis team. To find out more about the team, please visit the Data and Analysis team page.

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

Download dataset

GB milk hygiene

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