|
Milk Samples for Udder Health
Collecting Samples from Individual Cows
Please use the
following steps to avoid contamination :
- It is preferable for the collector to wear latex or vinyl gloves. If
gloves are not worn, the collector's hands must be clean and dry.
- The person collecting the samples should not be milking at the same time.
- Samples should be taken directly form the teats. Bucket or milk meter
samples tend to carry over bacteria from the previous cow
- The sample should be taken before the cow is milked. If the sample is
taken during
midday, it should be taken at least
4 hours after the last milking.
- Samples tubes should be handled properly to ensure sterility at all
times. The collection tube should be held at an angle (approximately 45
degree). Do not put caps into pockets, touch the tops or touch the inside of
the collection stubs. Avoid getting particles of dust, dirt or manure into
the sample tube.
- The most important factor is that teats need to be clean and dry. Prep the
cow as usual, but teats need to be dried completely by the person doing the
sample.
- After the routine teat preparation, scrub the teat ends thoroughly with
alcohol swab or sterile cotton ball saturated with alcohol. Clean the teats
on the far side of the udder first. Be careful not to touch teat ends before
taking the milk sample. Sample the teats closest to you first. Discard a
squirt or tow of milk before sample collection
- While holding the tube at an angle collect a squirt two of milk from each
quarter being the sampled. If collecting milk from all quarters (composite
sample) try and take the same amount of milk from each quarter.
- Open barn doors or tunnel ventilation can cause massive air movement,
resulting in major contamination problems from bedding and dust. Feeding
during sampling should be avoided.
- Tighten the cap and properly label the collection tube using a fine tip
water proof marker. Immediately place in a refrigerator or freezer. Keep
cold or frozen until delivery to the our laboratory. Bacteria in samples that
are not cooled or frozen may grow, resulting in misleading information.
Courtesy of MVDL |
