milk quality Flashcards
(11 cards)
What is the role of the farm vet in milk quality
Promote and ensure cow cleanliness (environment)
Review and monitor
milking routines
Monitor and investigate Bactoscan/Total Bacterial Count (TBC)
Investigate antibiotic failures/review testing systems
What are the sources of bacteria in raw milk
What environmental factors contribute to bacterial contamination of cows and how can they be minimised before milking?
Pasture:
- Reduce mud & faecal build-up at gateways/troughs (e.g. use bark/chip)
- Rotate field access points
Housing:
- Ensure enough living space (≥3 m²/cow) to limit faecal contamination
- Provide access to regularly scraped yards
Cubicle bedding:
- Contamination risk varies by bedding material and management
Water:
- Use only potable water in parlour
- UV treat non-mains water and maintain clean header tanks
How can environmental bacterial contamination be reduced before we harvest the cow’s milk?
We may improve hygiene at pasture and/or hygiene at housing…
…and optimise teat preparation immediately before we milk the cow
Describe mastitis infections as a source of bacteria in raw milk
Avoid mastitic milk being included in the tank
Describe teat preparation routine
Start with a clean, dry teat that has been disinfected
options:
- Dry wipe only
- Washing & drying with cloths
- Pre-spray/pre-dip and dry
- Medicated wipes (e.g., chlorhexidine)
- Motorised teat scrubbing brushes
Pre-milking teat disinfection and wipe dry is associated with a significant reduction in Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. counts in bulk milk
what is total bacteria count vs Bactoscan
A Total Bacterial Count (TBC) of 5000 cfu/ml would equate to a Bactoscan of around 30,000 impulses/ml
What is the approach to an increased Bactoscan?
Consider the obvious - teat preparation, milking machine wash up (strip down plant, bulk tank)
Clinical mastitis detection?
Bulk tank bacteriology:
- collect a sample & send to specialist laboratory
- Can give indication of likely source of problem
- Gives both qualitative (which bacteria) & quantitative (how many) results
Analyse this bulk tank report
Write a checklist for increased Bactoscan
Sporadic increases in Bactoscan or always increased?
Collect a bulk milk sample, send chilled to an independent specialist laboratory for analysis of differential counts and a direct plating
Review clinical mastitis detection (differential counts are low but heavy growth of bacteria such as Streptococcus spp.)
Review environment management and pre-milking teat preparation (increased coliform count)
Review water quality in parlour (psychrotrophic count)
Review machine wash up (thermoduric count)
Review bulk tank cleaning (psychrotrophic count)
Fill in the table with liquid milk hazards
