Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 June 2009
The effect of pulsator rates on the somatic cell count of milk from cows free of intramammary infections was determined. Four pulsator rates ranging from 30 to 120 cycles/min were compared in a Latin square design with 20 cows being milked at each of the 4 pulsator rates for periods of 19 d. Somatic cell count was not affected by any of the pulsator rates and it is concluded that varying pulsator rates will not cause stress or irritation that will lead to an increase in somatic cell count in the absence of mastitis infections.