Can samples for bacterial culture be collected from the meters like DHI SCC and composition samples?
No. Although the meters and milking equipment are routinely cleaned and sanitized some bacteria may be added to the milk in passage. This is not enough to cause milk quality problems such as elevated plate loop counts (PLCs). However, if these bacteria are in the samples collected from the meters and grow on the cultures at the mastitis diagnostic lab it is impossible to determine whether the bacteria came from a mastitis infection in the cow or from the milking equipment. Additionally, these equipment bacteria multiply rapidly and can “overgrow” or hide mastitis bacteria so that they cannot be identified by the lab technician. Is the culturing done in the same lab as the SCC testing? No. Individual cow SCC testing is done at DHI in Guelph. Individual cow cultures are done by the labs that used to be part of OMAF but, as of April 1st, 1997, are part of the University of Guelph. There are two labs doing mastitis culture, one in Kemptville and one in Guelph. Some veterinary practises als
