Factors Associated with Off-flavours in Milk in Prince Edward Island Dairy Herds

Abstract

Absence of off-flavours in milk is a major factor in consumer acceptance of milk and milk products. In the last three years, the Prince Edward Island (PE.I.) dairy industry has been facing considerable economic loss due to the development of off-flavours in milk. Review of the literature on off-flavours, even though voluminous (mainly referring to oxidized and rancid milk), provides little insight as to why outbreaks suddenly occur in certain localities, and how best to predict and avoid their occurrence. While many herd- and farm-level factors have been associated with off-flavours in milk in the literature, these associations are rarely based on controlled epidemiologic studies. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the factors associated with the production of off-flavoured milk and to elaborate practical management control strategies.