Healthy ewe in pasture, symbolizing milk quality and somatic cell levels.

Decoding Ewe's Milk: How Somatic Cell Counts Impact Quality and Your Cheese

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Samir D’Costa in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Unlock the secrets of raw ewe's milk: Discover how somatic cell counts (SCC) affect milk yield, composition, and ultimately, the cheese on your plate."


Sheep breeding for milk, wool, and meat has a long and cherished tradition. While sheep numbers stabilize, efforts are increasingly focused on milk production, especially for cheese making. Improving milk yield and quality is paramount for dairy farmers.

One crucial aspect of achieving optimal milk production is effective breeding management. Keeping detailed information on individual animal production and health is vital for good management. However, the decline in animal milk recording in recent years—despite the benefits of crossbreeding with Lacaune sheep—highlights the need for accessible, practical strategies to enhance milk quality.

Regular milk recording primarily involves analyzing milk composition, but analysis of somatic cell counts (SCC) is less common, despite its widespread recognition as an indicator of udder health. Because milk payments aren't based on SCC, routine analysis is rare. More objective factors and clearer relationships are needed to understand how SCC affects milk quality and value.

The Study: Analyzing Somatic Cell Counts in Ewe’s Milk

Healthy ewe in pasture, symbolizing milk quality and somatic cell levels.

A study analyzed somatic cell counts (SCC) in individual sheep milk samples under real-world conditions. Researchers collected 2,159 samples from four farms in April, May, June, and July, categorizing ewes into five SCC groups: Low (<200,000 cells/mL), Middle (200,000-400,000 cells/mL), Higher (400,000-600,000 cells/mL), High (600,000-1,000,000 cells/mL), and Mastitis (>1,000,000 cells/mL).

The distribution of milk samples across these SCC groups revealed that 71.79% had low SCC, 10.24% fell into the middle range, 5.05% were in the higher range, 4.03% were high, and 8.89% were classified as mastitis. Overall, 82.03% of samples were below 400,000 cells/mL, while only 8.89% exceeded 1,000,000 cells/mL. The Lacaune breed had a higher percentage of milk samples in the mastitis group compared to other breeds and crossbreeds. Elevated SCC levels reduced milk yield, with a notable difference between ewes in the mastitis group and those in the low SCC group (419±13 mL vs. 503±6 mL, respectively).

  • SCC as an Indicator: Somatic cell counts are a key indicator of udder health in ewes.
  • Impact on Milk Yield: High SCC levels, especially in the Mastitis group, can significantly reduce milk yield.
  • Breed Differences: The Lacaune breed shows a higher prevalence of mastitis compared to other breeds.
  • Quality Limits: Maintaining low SCC levels is crucial for developing quality standards in sheep milk production.
By calculating SCC in bulk milk tanks with and without the “Mastitis” group of ewes, the study found that significant SCC reduction in bulk milk can be achieved by excluding milk from ewes with SCC over 1,000,000 cells mL-¹. This approach, while effective in lowering SCC, had varying effects on the amount of milk delivered, highlighting that reducing the number of animals with high SCC is an effective method for improving overall milk quality.

Implications for Sheep Milk Quality

The study highlights that most animals had low SCC, but emphasis should be placed on those with counts exceeding 1,000,000 cells mL-¹. While a low percentage of animals with high SCC may indicate subclinical udder health issues rather than purely physiological factors, targeted efforts can improve milk quality. Ultimately, prioritizing ewes within the first two SCC groups may drive legislative limits for sheep milk quality, benefiting dairy production.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.15567/mljekarstvo.2017.0402, Alternate LINK

Title: Somatic Cell Counts In Raw Ewes’ Milk In Dairy Practice: Frequency Of Distribution And Possible Effect On Milk Yield And Composition

Journal: Mljekarstvo

Publisher: Croatian Dairy Union

Authors: Vladimír Tančin

Published: 2017-09-29

Everything You Need To Know

1

Why are somatic cell counts (SCC) so important when it comes to ewe's milk?

Somatic cell counts, or SCC, serve as a crucial indicator of udder health in ewes. Elevated SCC levels often signal an infection or inflammation in the udder, directly influencing the milk's quality and overall yield. Regularly monitoring SCC helps dairy farmers identify and manage potential health issues, ensuring better milk production and healthier animals.

2

How do high somatic cell counts (SCC) affect how much milk a ewe produces?

High somatic cell counts, particularly in ewes categorized within the Mastitis group (above 1,000,000 cells/mL), have a notable impact on milk yield. The study revealed that ewes in the Mastitis group produced significantly less milk compared to those with low SCC. Managing and reducing high SCC levels is therefore vital for optimizing milk production volume.

3

Does the ewe's breed affect somatic cell counts (SCC)?

The Lacaune breed showed a higher prevalence of milk samples falling into the mastitis group compared to other breeds and crossbreeds in the study. This suggests that the Lacaune breed may be more susceptible to udder infections or inflammation, leading to elevated somatic cell counts. Understanding these breed-specific differences allows for more targeted health and breeding management strategies.

4

Why is it crucial to keep somatic cell counts (SCC) low for good quality sheep milk production?

Maintaining low somatic cell count levels is essential for developing and adhering to quality standards in sheep milk production. Milk with low SCC generally has better composition and is more suitable for cheese making. By focusing on reducing SCC, dairy farmers can improve the overall quality of their milk, enhancing its market value and suitability for premium dairy products.

5

How does excluding milk from ewes with very high somatic cell counts (SCC) improve overall milk quality, and what are the implications?

By strategically excluding milk from ewes with SCC exceeding 1,000,000 cells mL-¹, a significant reduction in SCC can be achieved in bulk milk. While effective for lowering SCC, this approach may affect the total volume of milk delivered. The study suggests that actively reducing the number of animals with high SCC is a more sustainable method for enhancing overall milk quality, as it addresses the underlying health issues and maintains production levels.

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