Enhance your cheese knowledge and boost your career with the Certified Cheese Professional Exam. Study with comprehensive materials, flashcards, and multiple choice questions. Prepare effectively and get licensed!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What potential issue can arise from high levels of somatic cells in milk?

  1. Increased milk yield

  2. Higher risk of udder infection

  3. Improved cheese texture

  4. Lower lactose levels

The correct answer is: Higher risk of udder infection

High levels of somatic cells in milk are indicative of an underlying issue, often related to the health of the bovine udder. Somatic cells primarily consist of white blood cells, which the body sends to the udder in response to infection or inflammation, particularly mastitis. As these cells increase in number, it signals that the cow's body is actively fighting an infection. Consequently, high somatic cell counts not only suggest a higher risk of udder infection but also are associated with implications for milk quality, including off-flavors and reduced shelf life. Therefore, option B accurately reflects the potential issue associated with increased somatic cell levels. Options discussing milk yield, cheese texture, and lactose levels do not directly relate to somatic cell count and its primary implications.