For increasing SCC values above the 150,000 cell/mL threshold from drying-off to early lactation, there was a trend (P= 0.07) for higher portions of cows in organic herds. These results should not be interpreted to simply reflect the use of antibiotic dry-cow therapy in conventional herds. However, they indicate that with the exception of synthetic antibiotics, all diagnostic measures and animal care at drying-off provide a means to improve mammary gland health regardless of the MS.