Short communication: Bovine milk sampling efficiency for pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) detection test

Two experiments were conducted to verify whether the time of day at which a milk sample is collected and the possible carryover in the milking system may affect pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) levels and, consequently, the pregnancy test results in dairy cows. In experiment one, we evaluated the effect of time of day at which the milk sample is collected from 51 cows. In experiment two, which evaluated the possible occurrence of carryover in the milk meter milking system, milk samples from 94 cows belonging to two different farms were used. The samples were subjected to pregnancy test using ELISA methodology to measure PAG concentrations and to classify the samples as positive (pregnant), negative (nonpregnant), or suspicious (recheck). We found that the time of milking did not affect the PAG levels. As to the occurrence of carryover in the milk meter, the PAG levels of the samples collected from Farm-2 were heavily influenced by a carryover effect compared with the samples from Farm-1. Thus, milk samples submitted to a pregnancy test can be collected during the morning or the evening milking. When the sample is collected from the milk meters, periodic equipment maintenance should be noted, including whether the milk meter is totally drained between different animals’ milking and equipment cleaning between milking is performed correctly to minimize the occurrence of carryover, thereby avoiding the effect on PAG levels and, consequently, the pregnancy test results. Therefore, a single milk sample can be used for both milk quality tests and pregnancy test

Calidad de la leche: factores asociados al personal vinculado al ordeño

Objetivo. Identificar factores asociados a altos y bajos niveles de recuentos de células somáticas (RCS) en tanques de hatos lecheros del Sudeste de Brasil. Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron 68 hatos lecheros con niveles altos y bajos de RCS en tanque. Para identificar factores asociados al personal vinculado al ordeño y relacionarlos con RCS se aplicaron encuestas y listas de chequeo para la rutina y el equipo de ordeño. Resultados. El personal vinculado al ordeño, administración y gestión del productor explicaron hasta el 40.28% de la variabilidad entre rebaños, mientras que el bienestar y la estabilidad del ordeñador explicaron hasta el 28%. La planeación y organización del productor fueron relevantes en el RCS, al igual que el estado del equipo y la rutina de ordeño. Análisis separados de empleado y propietario permitiero concluir que existe mayor variabilidad para los primeros, diferenciándose por conocimientos en la producción de leche y el manejo de la mastitis, la rutina y la experiencia. Conclusión. Existen factores clasificatorios en los sistemas de ordeño del sudeste de Brasil asociados al personal, el equipo y la rutina de ordeño. El entendimiento de estos factores posibilitará la implementación de estrategias que permitan producir leche de mejor calidad

Milk quality: milking personnel associated factors

Objective. To identify factors associated with high and low Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) levels in bulk tanks of dairy farms in Southeast Brazil. Materials and methods. A total of 68 dairy herds with high and low bulk tank SCC levels were analyzed. Surveys and checklists were applied to the personnel regarding milking routines and equipment. Results. Milkers and management personnel explained up to 40.28% of the variability among herds, while the milker’s well-being and stability explained up to 28%. Planning and organization were relevant for SCC, as well as the state of the equipment and the milking routine. According to separate analyzes of employees and owners, employees have greater variability in terms of knowledge on milk production, mastitis, milking routine, and experience. Conclusion. There are qualifying factors in milking systems in southeastern Brazil associated with milking personnel, equipment and milking routine. Understanding these factors will enable the implementation of strategies to produce better quality milk.Objetivo. Identificar factores asociados a altos y bajos niveles de recuentos de células somáticas (RCS) en tanques de hatos lecheros del Sudeste de Brasil. Materiales y métodos. Se analizaron 68 hatos lecheros con niveles altos y bajos de RCS en tanque. Para identificar factores asociados al personal vinculado al ordeño y relacionarlos con RCS se aplicaron encuestas y listas de chequeo para la rutina y el equipo de ordeño. Resultados. El personal vinculado al ordeño, administración y gestión del productor explicaron hasta el 40.28% de la variabilidad entre rebaños, mientras que el bienestar y la estabilidad del ordeñador explicaron hasta el 28%. La planeación y organización del productor fueron relevantes en el RCS, al igual que el estado del equipo y la rutina de ordeño. Análisis separados de empleado y propietario permitieron concluir que existe mayor variabilidad para los primeros, diferenciándose por conocimientos en la producción de leche y el manejo de la mastitis, la rutina y la experiencia. Conclusión . Existen factores clasificatorios en los sistemas de ordeño del sudeste de Brasil asociados al personal, el equipo y la rutina de ordeño. El entendimiento de estos factores posibilitará la implementación de estrategias que permitan producir leche de mejor calidad

Influence of attitudes and behavior of milkers on the hygienic and sanitary quality of milk

<div><p>Recognizing how human behaviors affect the milk process can be useful to understand variations in hygienic and sanitary parameters in bulk tank milk. Furthermore, this knowledge could be used to design management programs that guarantee milk quality, favoring the optimization of such processes. Forty-six milkers from the same number of dairy farms in Antioquia province (Colombia) were interviewed to establish the main factors associated to milk quality. Technical knowledge, motivations, and behavior of the personnel and its effect on hygienic and sanitary quality of milk were evaluated. Quality was assessed in terms of colony-forming units (CFU) and somatic cell count (SCC) in bulk tank milk. Two factors from a multivariate mixed data analysis were evaluated. One of those factors explained 9.51% of the total variability, related with in-farm availability and use of tools and the relationships between milker and manager. The other factor, associated with work environment and recognition, explained 6.97% of the total variability. The variables that best explained CFU levels were <i>Knowledge of the udder condition at milking</i>, and <i>Milking type (parlor or pasture)</i>. The SCC was associated to <i>knowledge of animal handling</i>, <i>schooling of milkers</i>, <i>milking site</i>, and the groups derived from the cluster analysis by farm. In conclusion, milker attitudes and behaviors can affect CFU and SCC in bulk tank milk.</p></div

Participation (%) of milkers in variables describing the clusters (p <0.05).

<p>Participation (%) of milkers in variables describing the clusters (p <0.05).</p

Behavior variables of milkers in Northern Antioquia.

<p>Behavior variables of milkers in Northern Antioquia.</p

Technical knowledge associated with milk quality and milking routines of milkers operating mechanical milking systems in Northern Antioquia.

<p>Technical knowledge associated with milk quality and milking routines of milkers operating mechanical milking systems in Northern Antioquia.</p

Quality of bulk tank milk according to colony-forming units (CFU) and somatic cell counts (SCC).

<p>Quality of bulk tank milk according to colony-forming units (CFU) and somatic cell counts (SCC).</p