Hi! Greetings from I & A Lab! I know that it's been a long time, but
I have some interesting news that might help you better understand your
results, what they mean to you and how the numbers relate to the quality
of milk you are producing. I would like to take this opportunity to pass
some helpful information to you. In this bulletin, I will be discussing
Standard Plate Count(SPC), Laboratory Pasteurization Count(LPC), Coliform
Count, and Somatic Cell Count(SCC), their results and what the numbers
signify.
Standard
Plate Count - The Standard Plate Count (SPC) is one of the oldest
and most frequently used methods for enumerating bacteria. The SPC, employing
uniform standardization of equipment, materials, and incubation is of
considerable value because it determines the quantity of aerobic bacteria
per sample tested. High SPC results indicate cows infected with mastitis
or poor cow preparation which means unsanitary milking and cleaning protocol.
Laboratory
Pasteurization Count - The Laboratory Pasteurization Count (LPC)
is performed in the dairy testing laboratory to detect high levels of
thermoduric ( pasteurization- resistant) bacteria in raw milk supplies.
These bacteria are not known to be pathogenic for man, but at high levels
will affect the grading quality of Grade A pasteurized milk produced.
The organisms readily resist pasteurization methods, thereby causing high
bacterial counts in violation of the accepted bacterial standard. The
principle sources of contamination are poorly cleaned and sanitized utensils
and equipment on farms and in processing plants. The thermoduric count
has been used in the dairy industry primarily as a test of care employed
in utensil sanitation.
Coliform
Count - Coliform bacteria are almost uniformly present in raw
milk. The extent of their presence at the time milk is received at the
plant is dependent largely upon the sanitary conditions under which the
milk has been produced and upon extent of growth of these bacteria between
the time of milking to the time of delivery to the pasteurization plant.
Even under the best of conditions a few coliforms almost always can be
found. One of the most damaging types of mastitis may be caused by certain
coliform types. However, improperly cleaned utensils are the most common
source. The exterior of the cow may contribute some of these bacteria,
owing to contact with fecal material.
Somatic
Cell Count - Mastitis involves the inflammation of the tissues
of the udder by specific pathogenic bacteria and, sometimes by several
bacterial types at one time. Detection methods include the Somatic Cell
Count (SCC). Leucocyte counts are made by observing stained milk smears
under 1000 x magnification and counting the total number of leucocytes
(present during mastitis infection) in the appropriate number of microscopic
fields. The greater the number, the greater the mastitis infection is.
early detection is important for the sake of milk production and for the
health of the cow.
By
keeping the equipment and processing plant properly sanitized, most of
these organisms can be avoided. If you have any questions regarding this
newsletter or would like more information on our tests, please call us
at (909) 947-6065.
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