EN
The number of somatic cells was determined by the California Mastitis Test using Mastirapid (TOK) and the Whiteside test in 5049 samples of milk from milk purchasing sources (PSM) and in 185 samples of milk at street commerce (sold at street markets’ by individual farmers). The hygienic quality of milk was evaluated by the reductase test using resasurine. Whiteside test showed that 64.0% of milk samples from milking by hand, 69.2% of samples from machine milking and 68.1% of milk samples from street commerce contained more than 500 000 somatic cells per one ml. The TOK showed an increased number of somatic cells in 21.3% samples of milk from milking by hand, 30.4% of samples from machine milking and in 37.8% milk samples from street commerce. Only 51.0% samples of milk from milking by hand, 36.2% from street commerce and 33.6% of samples of milk from machine milking were qualified to the 1st class. It was found that the milk from the milk purchasing sources from more than 60.0% of the herds contained an increased number of somatic cells and that in 30.0% of the herds this increase was very clear. These data suggest that in such herds mastitis was present at least in one cow.