[Inspection of the bovine udder (author's transl)]

Cell counts were made once and the presence or absence of Str. agalactiae, Str. uberis, Str. dysgalactiae and St. aureus were determined once in all quarter samples on seventeen normal dairy farms. Of 1,416 quarters studied, 347 (24.5%) showed a cell count of greater than 500,000/ml. and, of 354 udders examined, 202 (57.1%) showed a cell count of greater than 500,000/ml. The total number of quarters infected with pathogenic agents was 287 (20.3%), the number of infected udders being 159 (48.3%). The findings reported by the present author should also be taken into account in the recent discussion of the question whether the udders of lactating cattle intended for slaughter should be systematically condemned or, at any rate, should only be designed for human consumption after having been passed.