TY - JOUR

T1 - Comparison of two teat skin sampling methods to quantify teat contamination

AU - Hohmann, Maria

AU - Wente, Nicole

AU - Zhang, Yanchao

AU - Klocke, Doris

AU - Krömker, Volker

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - The aim of this research was to compare two sampling methods quantifying microbial load on teat ends, especially mastitis pathogens originating from the cows’ surroundings. Methods were compared using a split udder design, including 132 teat pairs in the study. For the first method, the wet/dry swab technique, a moistened swab was rotated 360° around the teat end, followed by a dry swab in the same manner. For the second and new method, the dipping technique, teat ends were immersed in a cup filled with Ringer’s solution and were removed after five seconds. Microbial load per milliliter as well as per teat end was calculated by determining the number of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria as well as environmental pathogenic bacteria, including coliform bacteria and esculin-positive streptococci. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used to quantify the agreement between two series of measurements and revealed the following coefficients: 0.112 for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria; 0.008 for coliform bacteria and 0.001 for esculin positive streptococci. The results of this study point out that under field conditions, the new method does not provide similar results when compared with the wet/dry swab technique for determining teat end microbial load.

AB - The aim of this research was to compare two sampling methods quantifying microbial load on teat ends, especially mastitis pathogens originating from the cows’ surroundings. Methods were compared using a split udder design, including 132 teat pairs in the study. For the first method, the wet/dry swab technique, a moistened swab was rotated 360° around the teat end, followed by a dry swab in the same manner. For the second and new method, the dipping technique, teat ends were immersed in a cup filled with Ringer’s solution and were removed after five seconds. Microbial load per milliliter as well as per teat end was calculated by determining the number of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria as well as environmental pathogenic bacteria, including coliform bacteria and esculin-positive streptococci. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) was used to quantify the agreement between two series of measurements and revealed the following coefficients: 0.112 for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria; 0.008 for coliform bacteria and 0.001 for esculin positive streptococci. The results of this study point out that under field conditions, the new method does not provide similar results when compared with the wet/dry swab technique for determining teat end microbial load.

M3 - Journal article

VL - 73

SP - 2

EP - 6

JO - Milk Science International - Milchwissenschaft

JF - Milk Science International - Milchwissenschaft

SN - 2567-9538

IS - 1

ER -