Authors: H.J. Schuiling, F. Neijenhuis
Flushing of the teatcup liners between the milkings of two cows is a common
procedure in AMsystems.
In this investigation the standard procedure, flushing with cold water, is
compared with flushing with a disinfecting fluid, composed of cold water and
per acetic acid. Liners were contaminated with a suspension of Streptococcus
agalactiae in milk, comparable with a severe inflammation of the udder. The
log reduction in number of pathogens was 1,80 and 2,26 for respectively cold
water and the disinfectant. The extra log reduction with a disinfectant was
small and did not compensate for the negative effects of using disinfectants
in a milking system (extra rinse necessary, higher risk of contamination of
milk).
Further experiments to show the effect of cluster flush on transfer of
pathogens through liners are done with a cold water rinse only.
46 Cows were challenged with pathogens by milking with deliberately
contaminated liners with a high dose of Streptococcus agalactiae prior to the
cluster flush. Two liners (cross positioned front and rear) were flushed after
contamination, the other two liners were not flushed. The udder health of the
cows was measured during one week after the challenge. In none of the foremilk
samples Streptococcus agalactiae could be recovered and none of quarters
showed signs of an inflammation (increase in SCC or conductivity). The effect
of a cluster flush on the rate of new infections could not be established in
this experiment.
However, based on the results of the reduction of pathogens in liners, it is
recommended to perform a cluster flush to reduce the number of pathogens in
the liner.
|
|
|
|
© Animal Sciences Group -
Wageningen UR. Last update:
20-02-2008 10:03. |
 |