Finding the root cause of high Bactoscan counts
As many producers well know, a high Bactoscan or total bacteria count (TBC) can lead to financial loss, increased possibility of mastitis and poor milk quality.
High Bactoscan counts can be lowered, though, through proper management and regular check-ups.
There are three main sources of bacteria in milk: mastitis organisms, environmental contamination and dirty milking equipment. Contamination can occur in one of two ways: directly from the cow when mastitis organisms seep into milk, or indirectly from the environment or milking equipment.
Milk from cows with clinical mastitis should not enter the bulk tank, as infected milk can increase bulk tank Bactoscan considerably. For this reason, good mastitis detection is a must.
A Bactoscan culture in the lab
For the most part, environmental contamination is caused by poor environmental conditions. Cows living in unclean environments often have dirty udders and teats. To avoid bacterial contamination, good udder and teat preparation is extremely important. On top of that, milking units should be thoroughly disinfected. Similarly, disinfected milking equipment should be attached to clean, dry teats.
Indicators of faecal contamination include coliform organisms and other environmental organisms, like Pseudomonads, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus faecalis and Bacillus species, among others. To avoid contamination, use a pre-dip solution and keep cows in clean, dry and well-bedded accommodations.
As most producers know, inadequately cleaned milking equipment can lead to raised Bactoscan.
Problems can occur as a result of poor wash-up routines. After milking, all equipment should be properly cleaned. Also, the bulk tank should be cleaned after emptying. It’s not just milking equipment that creates the potential for bacterial infection, though. Poor refrigeration has been known to cause problems as well. Milk should be cooled to 4ºC or less as soon as possible after milking. Doing so will limit bacterial growth and help to maintain milk quality.
For more information contact Adam Heffernan at Kellihers Feed & Agri, Ballymullen, 087- 87-2511520 or John Lynch 086 8136865