Changes

#Environment<br>If cow cleanliness is poor, then this can be a reason for raised bulk milk Bactoscan level. Methods to objectify the level of cleanliness have been described and form the basis of a useful tool to use on farm. This tends to be a problem seen during the housing period, but not always and farms practicing seasonal pre-milking teat disinfection may be caught out by poor weather or a badly poached field.

#Environment<br>If cow cleanliness is poor, then this can be a reason for raised bulk milk Bactoscan level. Methods to objectify the level of cleanliness have been described and form the basis of a useful tool to use on farm. This tends to be a problem seen during the housing period, but not always and farms practicing seasonal pre-milking teat disinfection may be caught out by poor weather or a badly poached field.

#Parlour routine<br>Monitoring procedures in the parlour is essential as part of any Bactoscan investigation. Occasionally, very dirty cows may have their udders and teats washed and clusters applied before being wiped dry. This effectively creates a suspension of bacteria on the teat that can actually make the Bactoscan worse! A herd's pre-milking teat disinfecting protocol should also be assessed. Possible problems include the disinfectant not being left on long enough (usually there is a 30 second recommended contact time), the teat not being effectively wiped dry or ineffective products being used. Some farms may only use disinfection during the housing period when teat contamination risk is highest, which can still be effective for controlling the Bactoscan. The extent of gross contamination in milk can be visibly assessed by looking at the milk sock after milking.

#Parlour routine<br>Monitoring procedures in the parlour is essential as part of any Bactoscan investigation. Occasionally, very dirty cows may have their udders and teats washed and clusters applied before being wiped dry. This effectively creates a suspension of bacteria on the teat that can actually make the Bactoscan worse! A herd's pre-milking teat disinfecting protocol should also be assessed. Possible problems include the disinfectant not being left on long enough (usually there is a 30 second recommended contact time), the teat not being effectively wiped dry or ineffective products being used. Some farms may only use disinfection during the housing period when teat contamination risk is highest, which can still be effective for controlling the Bactoscan. The extent of gross contamination in milk can be visibly assessed by looking at the milk sock after milking.

#Wash up routine<br>The wash up routine should be investigated.

#Wash up routine<br>The wash up routine should be investigated. Using cold water for the first rinse can congeal butterfat within the pipes which favours bacterial colonisation and growth and thus may raise the Bactoscan. For circulation washing, which is the common method used in the UK, the temperature of the water at the end of the wash cycle should not fall below 40°C which can be associated with the same problem. This can be measured with a thermometer as the water leaves the system as part of the investigation. Adequate boiler capacity is needed to supply sufficient hot water for the cycle which should also be checked. When the hot wash is occurring it should not be possible to hold onto the stainless steel pipes containing the water which if possible, indicates too cool a water temperature.

#[[Bulk Milk Bacteriology|Bulk Milk Bacteriology]]<br>[[Bulk Milk Bacteriology|Bulk milk bacteriology]] can be a very useful tool for Bactoscan investigations.

#[[Bulk Milk Bacteriology|Bulk Milk Bacteriology]]<br>[[Bulk Milk Bacteriology|Bulk milk bacteriology]] can be a very useful tool for Bactoscan investigations for distinguishing the causes. However, its limitations must be considered and it should not be a substitute for a more thorough investigation.

[[Category: To do - Nlyons]]

[[Category: To do - Review]]