Moor farm Project update - November 2023
Project 1:The role of Genocells to identify high Somatic Cell Count cows within a herd using a single bulk tank sample
Most of the herd at Moor had been NMR GeneEze tested except for a few of the older animals in the herd. Therefore, a total of 33 animals were tagged in October 2023 to carry out genomic testing, to ensure all of the herd were equipped with the same tag for DNA sampling to complete genomic profiling. Samples were sent by post to NMR for analysis and Moor Farm received the Genomic data for the cows within a few weeks.
Moor Farm currently measures SCC through the traditional method of milk recording; the whole herd undergoes milk recording every month for quality, yield and SCC by NMR. This is continued through the project as a control treatment every month. Currently, Rhys received the data within a day or two after testing through email.
The following steps were carried out by Rhys in gathering the GenoCells sample:
- The GenoCells sample kit arrives on-farm in the post
- After milking and stirring Rhys took a milk sample from the top of the tank and sent it off to NMR Lab on the 24th of October
- Results were returned from the lab as quick as traditional testing, and some back the following day through email
- The Dairy Data Warehouse (DDW) software was used together with the whole herd data in one dashboard
Parallel sampling of single bulk milk sample was taken alongside the traditional method of individual milk recording the herd, to identify individual cow SCC results. Figure 1 showcases the results so far.
Figure 1. Correlation Coefficient graph of GenoCells vs Milk Recording