Milk Quality Flashcards
What are the main health hazards associated with liquid milk and dairy products?
Pathogens such as Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, often related to inadequate pasteurisation or contamination.
What are the key processes involved in milk treatment and how do they affect milk quality?
Processes include filtration, clarification, homogenisation, pasteurisation, and UHT. These reduce microbial load but can slightly impact nutritional value.
What is pasteurisation and how does it ensure milk safety?
Heating milk to a specific temperature to kill harmful bacteria; the effectiveness is tested using alkaline phosphatase activity.
What role does a veterinary practitioner play in the dairy supply chain?
Vets help ensure cow cleanliness, monitor milking routines, and investigate bacterial counts and antibiotic residue issues.
What are best hygienic practices for milking?
Clean and disinfect teats, monitor for mastitis, and ensure clean bedding and equipment.
How can environmental factors impact bacterial milk quality on farms?
Dirty environments increase bacterial contamination on cows’ udders, which can lead to higher bacterial counts in milk.
What is the significance of Total Bacterial Count (TBC) and Bactoscan in milk quality assessment?
TBC and Bactoscan measure bacterial contamination levels in milk, with higher counts indicating poor hygiene or contamination.
What could cause an increased Bactoscan reading?
Inadequate teat preparation, poor cleaning of the milking machine, mastitis, or contaminated water sources.
How should a vet investigate high bacterial counts in milk?
Collect and test bulk milk samples, review clinical mastitis detection, assess hygiene practices, and check water and equipment cleaning routines.
Why is pasteurisation not equivalent to sterilisation?
Pasteurisation kills most harmful bacteria but does not eliminate all microbial hazards; sterilisation would require more extreme measures.
What are some potential hazards in the milk processing chain off the farm?
Contamination during processing, improper pasteurisation, and issues in downstream product handling, like in the ice cream case.
How can vets help ensure milk quality throughout the dairy supply chain?
By advising on best practices for cleanliness, investigating contamination issues, and educating farmers on milk hygiene.
