Somatic cell count regulations Issues related to the regulatory aspects of abnormal milk and somatic cell count standards have been addressed by NMC since its inception. In the early 1960s, NMC worked closely with the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) “Abnormal Milk Committee” which developed the Abnormal Milk Program. This program was incorporated in the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and set the first US regulatory limit at 1,500,000 cells/ml. NMC continued to monitor regulatory activities and efforts to change the SCC standard. Although the NMC Board of Directors did not take official action supporting a decrease in the SCC standard during the 1970s and 1980s, NMC began to take a more proactive role in the 1990s. NMC submitted its first proposal to NCIMS in 1991, recommending a reduction in the SCC regulatory limit in the US to 500,000 cells/ml. An amended version of the proposal was adopted setting the SCC limit at 750,000 cells/ml effective in 1993.
between researchers and strengthened ties with the international scientific community. The first large international gathering at an NMC event occurred in 1978, when the NMC annual meeting program featured the International Symposium on Machine Milking. Over 500 people from 15 countries attended the symposium, which summed up the current state of knowledge on machine milking. Forty-six papers presented by speakers from 11 different countries were published in the 477 page proceedings.
Between 1999 and 2011, NMC submitted five separate proposals to NCIMS recommending that the US adopt a SCC limit of 400,000 cells/ml, matching the SCC limit in the European Union. Although the NCIMS has not approved a change in the SCC limit, progress has been made. In 2011, a proposal to lower the SCC standard to 400,000 cells/ml failed by only one vote. For additional information see related article A brief history of SCC regulations in the US (page 31).
International communications and relations The value of communicating and working with individuals from outside the US was recognized during the early years of NMC. The first international speaker at an NMC annual meeting was K.A. McEwen, Ontario Department of Agriculture and Food, in 1967. The following year, Carl Olof Claesson, Agricultural College of Sweden, became the first person from outside North America to be featured on the annual meeting program. The tradition of inviting a distinguished international mastitis researcher as a featured speaker at the annual meeting lasted for many years, and included individuals such as W. Whittlestone (New Zealand); F. Dodd (England); Murray Woolford (New Zealand); N.O. Klastrup (Denmark); J. O’Shea (Ireland); J. Bramley (England); G. Mein (Australia); and S. Soback (Israel). Speakers from all over the world continue to be a regular part of NMC annual meeting programs. NMC also fostered relationships with international organizations that shared similar concerns and objectives. During the mid 1970s, at the urging of the Research Committee, NMC initiated a more formal cooperation with the International Dairy Federation (IDF). In 1976, NMC accepted an invitation by the IDF A2 Group of Mastitis Experts to appoint an observer from the US to attend their meetings. W.D. Schultze, US Department of Agriculture, represented NMC at the IDF meetings from 1976 until his retirement. K. Larry Smith, Ohio State University, was then appointed by the NMC Board of Directors to serve as the NMC representative to the IDF mastitis group in 1987. Currently, Joe Hogan, Ohio State University, serves as the NMC representative to IDF. The resulting interactions have provided valuable consultation
50 Years of Milk Quality
In 1997, the NMC and the IDF A2 Group of Mastitis Experts cosponsored a special pre-conference symposium at the NMC annual meeting. International participation in NMC, which was already growing every year, benefited from the joint symposium. Nearly 25% of the registrants were from outside the US, representing 15 countries. In 1990, the NMC, along with the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), co-sponsored an International Symposium on Mastitis. Held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in conjunction with the AABP annual conference, the symposium featured speakers from 16 countries who presented 75 papers and 25 posters. Eleven years later NMC and AABP co-sponsored the 2nd International Symposium on Mastitis and Milk Quality in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although attendance was influenced by the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the symposium featured more than 130 papers and posters. The 3rd International Symposium, again hosted by NMC and AABP, was held in 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. These successful symposia brought together international leaders to address current and future issues in mastitis research and control and the production of high quality milk.
Working together To develop partnerships throughout the dairy industry, NMC pursued opportunities to host meetings with other organizations with similar goals. In addition to the three international symposia held with AABP, NMC held meetings with AABP in 1970 and 1982. NMC also partnered with the American Veterinary Medical Association on several occasions, including 1976, 1980, 1981 and 1982. Seminars were conducted by NMC during the Western Veterinary Conference in 1985 and at the Eastern States Veterinary Conference in 1987. The Milk Quality Council of California co-sponsored a seminar at the International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians
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