Hubungan Konsentrasi Ion Kalium dengan Jumlah Bakteri dan Sel Somatik dalam Susu Serta Skor California Mastitis Test pada Domba

Abstract

Thirty two lactating ewes were observed for 12 weeks to study the relationship between the concentration of milk potassium ion and the total bacterial count, somatic cell count and the scores of Californian mastitis test (CMT)in an effort to design an alternative method of detecting subdinical mastitis. Milk samples were collected weekly in the morning and tested for 12 weeks during lactation period. Parameters used in the study were the concentration of milk potassium ion, total bacterial ceIl count, somatic cell count, and CMT scores. The result showed that the increase in bacterial cell count and somatic cell count was closely related with the increase in the concentration of milk potassium ion (<0.01). When CMI score was positive, a dramatic increase in the concentration of milk potassium ion was detected as compared to that when the CMI score were negative. The variation in the concentration of milk potassium ion detected prior to the occurrence of clinical mastitis was greater than the total bacterial cell count and somatic cell count. In the conclusion, the concentration of milk potassium ion can be used as an alternative indicator for the occurrence of subdinical mastitis.