Among all functional characteristics, udder health is the most reliable and impartial trait to measure. Furthermore, that trait takes the most central position when it comes to pre-assess herd life. SCC as a predictor for udder health has been the first trait among the group of functional characteristics to be recorded within the scope of milk recording. However, it was not until the beginning of the present decade that udder health gained adequate recognition as a key trait, and its influence will continue to increase over the coming years.