The 13th Brazil South Symposium on Dairy Farming recently took place, with a focus on improving the quality and competitiveness of Brazilian dairy products. The event highlighted concerns over the high somatic cell count (SCC) in Brazil's milk, which has led to the least efficient dairy herds in the world, as noted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. High SCC levels not only affect milk quality but also increase the risk of mastitis, leading to a significant loss in milk production. Experts at the symposium emphasized the importance of technical assistance, training, and awareness to improve milk quality and highlighted the potential of whey, a byproduct of cheese production, in the protein market. Additionally, the symposium discussed Brazil's potential to become a competitive cheese exporter, addressing challenges such as high production costs and the impact of SCC on cheese production quality.