The Effect of Various Methods for Drying up Cows on the Bacterial and Cell Content of Milk

Abstract

Summary (1)Studies of the effect of various methods of drying up cows on the bacterial and cell content of the milk are reported. (2)Incomplete, intermittent, incomplete intermittent milking and complete cessation of milking did not appear to have any marked effect on the bacterial or cell counts of the milk in subsequent lactation periods. (3)Intermittent and incomplete milking usually resulted in somewhat higher bacterial and cell counts during such periods but apparently did not produce permanent effects. (4)Complete cessation of milking appeared to give the most satisfactory results. (5)Bacterial counts were usually somewhat lower during the first few milkings following parturition than they were during periods ten days following calving. (6)Bacterial counts were slightly higher immediately following periods of suspended milking, while the cell counts were decidedly higher. (7)The cell counts were generally higher during the colostral period and then became lower as the period of lactation advanced. (8)The average bacterial count of 284 samples of normal, aseptically drawn milk was 658 while the average cell count was 1,252,000 per cubic centimeter.