Leopold Tazreiter's cell count used to be consistently between 150,000 and 200,000. Since he started using STALLKRAFT bedding, it's at 70,000. That's very, very low — he says so himself. And Andreas Ehrenbrandtner can now deliver every liter of milk. No culling, faster milking, better quality. Two farms. Two stories. And natural minerals that make all the difference.
When we talk to dairy farmers, cell count is almost always a topic of discussion. Sometimes as a silent concern, sometimes as a real emergency. High cell counts cost money, time, and nerves. And they can lead to milk delivery bans, which are an existential threat.
What many don't realize is that the solution often doesn't lie solely in veterinary medicine, but in the barn. In the bedding. In the feed. And in a volcanic mineral that has been in the earth for millions of years.
What cell counts mean – and why they are so important
Cell counts (= SCC, Somatic Cell Count — the number of somatic, i.e., body's own cells per milliliter of milk) are the most important indicator of a cow's udder health. The more inflammatory processes occur in the udder, the higher the cell count.
A healthy udder has cell counts between 10,000 and 100,000 cells per milliliter. Above that, problems begin – gradually at first, then with measurable economic consequences.
What do the numbers mean concretely?
Below 100,000: healthy — this is every farm's goal
100,000 to 200,000: subclinical mastitis (= udder inflammation without visible symptoms) possible — often undetected, but already associated with milk losses
Above 200,000: udder health impairment almost certain — according to scientific literature, udder diseases are already present
Above 400,000: legal limit exceeded — immediate consequences
And the consequences are serious: from a three-month geometric mean value of 400,000 cells, milk price deductions are threatened in Austria and Germany — and in the event of repeated exceedance, a delivery ban. The dairy will then no longer accept the milk until two representative samples taken 4 days apart prove the value to be below the limit. For the farm, this means: rejected milk, loss of income, stress.
In Austria, the S-class applies to cell counts below 250,000 — so for the best price category, the farm must remain well below this. If the count is 150,000, there's breathing room. If it's 350,000, it's in the danger zone.
What many don't know: From 400,000 cells onwards, a milk yield loss of at least 10% can be expected — per affected cow, over the entire lactation. That's real money.
Why Cell Counts Rise – The Real Causes
High cell counts usually have several causes simultaneously – which makes them so persistent:
Moist cubicles are the most common trigger. Moisture in the resting area means germ pressure (= a high concentration of bacteria and germs in the barn environment) directly on the udder. Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and coliform germs multiply explosively in moist bedding – and wait to penetrate the udder.
Poor barn air stresses the cows' immune system. Ammonia (NH₃) in high concentrations weakens the mucous membranes and makes animals more susceptible to infections. What you smell, harms.
Subclinical mastitis (= udder inflammation without visible symptoms such as swelling or flakes in the milk) goes undetected – until the cell count is suddenly too high during the monthly dairy check. Many farms don't realize that several cows are already affected.
Stress around calving – the so-called transition period (= the critical weeks before and after birth) – severely weakens the immune system. During this phase, cows are particularly susceptible to udder infections.
Mycotoxins (= mold toxins) in feed additionally stress the immune system and can increase cell counts – even if the feed appears normal on the outside.
And then there's the creeping process: cell counts slowly rise over months – and then suddenly very quickly. Those who don't react early face a long, arduous struggle back.
What zeolite specifically does – new studies from veterinary journals
Ural 2014 – 80 Holstein cows, direct SCC measurement
One of the most direct studies on zeolite and cell counts: 80 healthy Holstein cows in a private dairy in Turkey. 40 animals received 3% clinoptilolite in their feed, 40 remained as a control group. A total of 2,560 milk samples were taken – morning and evening, over 16 weeks.
The result: The zeolite group had significantly lower SCC values than the control group (p<0.01) – and simultaneously higher milk yield. Fewer inflammations, more milk. Both together.
"Supplementing with clinoptilolite in dairy cows increases milk production and decreases somatic cell count." — Ural (2014), Revista MVZ Córdoba 19(3), DOI: 10.21897/rmvz.86
Đuričić et al. 2017 – Chemical Composition and Udder Health
20 Holstein cows, 10 with zeolite, 10 as control group – over five consecutive monthly measurements. The zeolite group showed stably lower cell counts over the entire observation period. The milk composition – fat, protein, lactose – remained stable or improved. No negative effects on the animals.
Source: Đuričić et al. (2017), Veterinarska Stanica 48(4), S. 257–265
Gračner et al. 2020 — MDPI Animals, 78 cows
78 dairy cows divided into zeolite and control groups. The control group had a 1.96 times higher risk of udder infections. Fewer infections directly means lower cell counts – because SCC increases in response to infections.
"Cows from the CON group had a 1.96 times higher risk of intramammary infection than cows from the CPL group." — Gračner et al. (2020), MDPI Animals, DOI: 10.3390/ani10020202
Narváez et al. 2022 – Clinoptilolite reduces SCC in the transition period
One of the newest review articles (Latin American Archives of Animal Production, 2022) confirms: Zeolite as a nutraceutical (= natural food supplement with health-promoting properties) reduces SCC in dairy cows during the critical transition period – precisely when the risk of mastitis is highest. As an antioxidant (= protects cells from oxidative stress), immunomodulator (= regulates the immune system) and ion exchanger, zeolite acts on several levels simultaneously.
Source: Narváez et al. (2022), Latin American Archives of Animal Production, DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.87969
Maity et al. 2021 – Metabolomics, University of Zagreb
The most scientifically sophisticated study on zeolite in dairy cows to date. Using metabolomics (= analysis of all metabolic products) and proteomics (= analysis of all proteins), it was shown that zeolite restores energy balance during the transition period – thereby simultaneously reducing the risk of mastitis, ketosis, and fatty liver. This is because negative energy balance is one of the main triggers for immune deficiency and elevated cell counts.
Source: Maity et al. (2021), Metabolites, DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120842
Aflatoxin study – 56% less mycotoxins in milk
A finding that is surprisingly relevant for many farms: 15 Greek dairy herds with elevated aflatoxin M1 levels in bulk tank milk received 200 g of clinoptilolite per animal daily. After 7 days, the aflatoxin concentration in milk had decreased by an average of 56.2%. Fewer mycotoxins mean less strain on the immune system – and thus, in the long term, lower cell counts.
Source: Katsoulos et al. (2016), BMC Veterinary Research, DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0735-5
What farmers report from practice
Leopold Tazreiter, Neustadtl/Donau
Leopold's story is concrete and relatable. He struggled with excessively high cell counts for years:
"Since we've been using STALLKRAFT bedding, the cell count in the cows has dropped to 70,000. That's very, very low. We used to always be at 150-200,000."
And it didn't come alone. At the same time, mastitis disappeared:
"The risk of udder inflammation has dramatically decreased. We haven't had a single case of mastitis in our barn."
And Mortellaro — the persistent claw disease — has also decreased due to the lime bath after milking. One product, several problems solved.
Andreas Ehrenbrandtner, St. Peter/Au
Andreas sums it up in one sentence:
"The best part is that I can deliver every liter of milk."
And explains why:
"Thanks to the bedding, the cubicles are dry and the zeolite is anti-inflammatory and reduces germs. The cleaner and more hygienic it is, the less germ pressure there is on the udder. The healthier the animals are. And the milk cell count is correct."
What he particularly appreciates: the bedding combines well with the straw – the mats become firmer and more compact. Less mud, fewer germs, fewer problems.
Rosner Family, Allhartsberg — Organic Farm
The Rosner family does it systematically: 700 kg of straw, 1,000 kg of STALLKRAFT bedding, 600 liters of water in the feed mixer wagon. The perfect mix is ready – uniform, compact, hygienic.
And their special tip against mastitis – passed on by many female farmers:
"We mix TIERKRAFT Zeolite with organic apple cider vinegar to a paste. This is applied to the udder. Works great! Mastitis is a thing of the past."
Herbert Grossauer, Maria Neustift
Herbert drew his conclusion:
"Those who skimp on quality pay dearly!"
And he has the numbers to back it up: Through continuous liming, he now only needs 300-400 kg of lime per hectare – because the soil is already built up. Those who stop, start from scratch.
The Mastitis Paste — a special tip passed on among female farmers
Mix STALLKRAFT Zeolite with organic apple cider vinegar to a creamy paste. Apply to the affected areas of the udder, where the hard spots are – ensure intensive contact by rubbing it in. Leave it on for several hours until the paste dries and falls off by itself. Repeat several times a day.
Why it works: Zeolite forms a protective film that keeps new germs away. It absorbs wound secretions and inflammatory products – and removes them when the paste falls off. Organic apple cider vinegar lowers the pH to a slightly acidic environment where Staphylococcus and coliform bacteria can hardly multiply. Laboratory studies confirm the antibacterial properties of clay minerals against a broad spectrum of pathogens (Haydel et al. 2008).
AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms — the third force against high cell counts
Zeolite bedding dries and binds germs from the outside. TIERKRAFT Zeolite strengthens the immune system from within. And AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms — produced at Loidholdhof in Upper Austria — complete the system.
AM+PLUS in the barn as a mist (= finest spray into the barn air): 0.2 liters in 10 liters of water, spray at least 3 times a week. The lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria and natural yeasts displace pathogenic (= disease-causing) germs from the barn air and on the bedding surfaces. Fewer germs in the barn means less germ pressure on the udder — and long-term lower cell counts.
Bernhard Keplinger, organic farmer from Bad Leonfelden, reports: "Since then, the climate in the barn has improved tremendously. The smell of the slurry is better, stirring is much easier and we no longer have flies in the barn. Even the vet asked us what we were doing in the barn."
No flies means fewer stress factors for the cows – and stress is one of the underestimated triggers for elevated cell counts.
The three levels — how STALLKRAFT, TIERKRAFT and AM+PLUS work together
Outside: STALLKRAFT bedding keeps the cubicles dry, binds ammonia and germs directly where they originate – in the bedding, before they reach the udder.
Inside: TIERKRAFT Zeolite as a feed additive strengthens the immune system, improves the energy balance during the critical transition period and binds mycotoxins in the digestive tract before they enter the bloodstream.
In the barn: AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms displace pathogenic germs from the barn air and create a healthy microbial balance (= the sum of all microorganisms in the barn environment) – which supports the cows' natural defenses.
All three together tackle the main problem: germ pressure on the udder. Reduced germ pressure means fewer udder infections – and lower cell counts.
What you can do immediately — concrete measures
Step 1 — Optimize bedding: STALLKRAFT bedding 200–300 g/m² daily. Always keep the resting area dry. For dry stalls, you often need less straw — the bedding saves raw material costs.
Step 2 — Optimize feed: TIERKRAFT Zeolite max. 1–2% of the daily total ration, mixed into moist feed. Especially important in the last 4 weeks before calving — when the risk of mastitis is highest.
Step 3 — Improve barn air: AM+PLUS 0.2 liters to 10 liters of water, sprayed into the barn air at least 3 times a week. Germs and flies are noticeably reduced.
Step 4 — For mastitis: Zeolite-apple cider vinegar paste externally on the affected udder. Repeat several times daily. Contact a vet in parallel — zeolite supports, but does not replace veterinary treatment.
Step 5 — Stay consistent: Cell counts don't drop overnight. Leopold Tazreiter achieved it in weeks — but consistently, daily, systematically. Anyone who stops starts from scratch.
Frequently asked questions about cell counts and zeolite
What is the difference between clinical and subclinical mastitis?
Clinical mastitis is visible — swollen udder, altered milk (watery, flaky, discolored), sick animal. Subclinical mastitis is not visible — the milk looks normal, the cow behaves normally. But the cell count increases. Most udder infections are subclinical — and only become apparent during checks by the dairy.
Can zeolite bedding also be eaten?
Yes — STALLKRAFT is high-quality feed lime. The organic herbs have a stimulating effect on digestion and well-being. If a cow licks bedding, she does so for a good reason.
How quickly do cell counts drop after using STALLKRAFT?
This is individual. Leopold Tazreiter brought his farm down to 70,000 within a few weeks. Other farms take longer — depending on the initial situation, barn construction, and number of animals. Important: apply consistently and daily. So, between 2 and 10 days.
Can I also use STALLKRAFT in high stalls with rubber mats?
Yes. The absorbency is just as important in high stalls as in deep litter — germs and moisture also arise here. Cows often get open knee wounds on hard mats, and small injuries heal faster with STALLKRAFT.
Application & Dosage
STALLKRAFT Bedding: 200–300 g/m² daily. Always keep the resting area dry. For Mortellaro: Create a lime bath, let cows walk through after milking.
TIERKRAFT Zeolite: max. 1% of the total daily ration, mix into moist feed. Especially in the last 4 weeks before calving.
AM+PLUS Barn Air: 0.2 L in 10 L water, spray at least 3x weekly.
Zeolite-Apple Cider Vinegar Paste: Mix STALLKRAFT with organic apple cider vinegar, apply to affected udder areas, repeat several times daily.
Our products for low cell counts
👉 STALLKRAFT Bedding — Zeolite, lime, and organic herbs for dry, hygienic cubicles
👉 TIERKRAFT Zeolite — 100% clinoptilolite feed additive for dairy cows
👉 AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms — for barn air and udder health
Read more
Zeolite for cattle & dairy cows — the complete article
Mastitis in cows — natural prevention and treatment
Zeolite in animal husbandry: What studies really show
NH₃ binding in slurry: Concrete recommendations for action
Source reference
Ural D.A. (2014): Efficacy of clinoptilolite supplementation on milk yield and somatic cell count. Revista MVZ Córdoba 19(3), DOI: 10.21897/rmvz.86 · Đuričić D. et al. (2017): Dietary zeolite clinoptilolite supplementation influences chemical composition of milk and udder health in dairy cows. Veterinarska Stanica 48(4), S. 257–265 · Gračner D. et al. (2020): Effects of Dietary Vibroactivated Clinoptilolite on Intramammary Microbiological Findings. MDPI Animals, DOI: 10.3390/ani10020202 · Narváez M.R. et al. (2022): Clinoptilolite supplementation in the basal diet reduces somatic cells of multiparous dairy cows. Latin American Archives of Animal Production · Maity S. et al. (2021): Integrated Metabolomics and Proteomics Reveals Dietary Zeolite Clinoptilolite Supplementation Restores Energy Balance. Metabolites, DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120842 · Katsoulos P.D. et al. (2016): In-field evaluation of clinoptilolite on reduction of aflatoxin M1 in milk. BMC Veterinary Research, DOI: 10.1186/s12917-016-0735-5 · Haydel S.E. et al. (2008): Broad-spectrum antibacterial activities of clay minerals. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 61, S. 353–361 · AMA Österreich (2019): Amendment to raw milk assessment · Milchindustrie-Verband Deutschland: Cell count limits
