Evaluation of forestripping milk and its effects on milk quality

Abstract

Consumers demand for food safety affects dairy industry, restraining the sector to adapt to milk quality parameters established by legislation, such as somatic cell count (SCC) and standard plate count (SPC). Good agricultural practices have positive impact over these parameters, especially Forestripping Milk (FSM), which consists of observing the first milk streams collected in a dark-bottomed mug for identification of clinical mastitis. These first milk streams have high somatic cells count and bacteria. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of milk from FSM, such as SCC and SPC values, and its impacts on milk quality of the cooling tank through simulating contamination. Fourteen dairy farms and one experimental farm were evaluated for SCC and SPC parameters of FSM. It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference for SCC and SPC between milk samples from the cooling tank and cooling tank simulating the inclusion of milk from FSM. Statistically significant difference for somatic cell score (SCS) and SPC was observed when tanks were classified by SCC. In addition, difference in SCS was observed between morning and afternoon milking. The collection of first milk streams can contribute to decrease in SCC and SPC of milk in the cooling tank. FSM must be practiced by all dairy farmers as milking management, to assist in clinical mastitis diagnosis and improve milk quality.