What is the proper way to take a milk sample and why is it so important?
Because you make important management decision based on your milk test results, it is critical to use proper sampling techniques to ensure accurate results. A contaminated sample causes waste and lost time, not only for the lab, but also for you. By the time the sample has been cultured and the lab determines the sample has been contaminated, several days have passed since the sample was drawn. Now, a new sample will have to be pulled at the farm, transported to the lab and cultured, which further delays getting those critical results back to the farm. If you have a problem you need to correct, your treatment will be postponed. Follow these guidelines to ensure you are taking a proper representative milk culture sample: • Prep the udder as you would for milking, by brushing off any loose bedding material around the teats. • Strip a few streams of milk from each quarter before applying your pre-dip. The first milk stripped from the quarter will have a higher Somatic Cell Count (SCC). Th
