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Investigations into falsely elevated somatic cell counts of bulked herd milk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Roderic J. T. Hoare ,
Paul J. Nicholls  and
Richard F. Sheldrake
Roderic J. T. Hoare
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield, N. S. W. 2167, Australia
Paul J. Nicholls
Affiliation:
Biometry Branch, N. S. W. Department of Agriculture, Sydney, N. S. W. 2000, Australia
Richard F. Sheldrake
Affiliation:
New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Research Station, Glenfield, N. S. W. 2167, Australia
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Summary

Bulk milk cell counts obtained by a Coulter Milk Cell Counter were shown to be falsely elevated because of the formation of non-cellular particles (NCP). The NCP, which were detected by the use of a particle size analyser, were removed if the milk samples were heated to 55 °C for 15 min before the addition of formalin. A survey of bulk milk supplies in New South Wales showed that NCP occurred in milk from 2 % of farms, the counts being falsely elevated by about 200000 cells/ml. Surveys of milking equipment of farms where the bulk milk had shown this phenomenon demonstrated a relationship between the use of centrifugal milk pumps and the presence of NCP with a much lower prevalence in herds where spit chamber releasers were used. These particles were not air bubbles since air was removed from the milk by heating to 60 °C for 5 min, vacuum at 65 mmHg for 15 minor 0·5% v/voctan-2-ol; only the heat treatment removed the NCP.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 49 , Issue 4 , November 1982 , pp. 559 - 565
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1982

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References

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