The devil is in the details

Opportunities and pitfalls of providing an in-clinic milk quality laboratory

Abstract

Microbial culture of milk for diagnosis of pathogens has been a mainstay of mastitis control for many years. Traditionally services have been provided by outside laboratories or to some degree, by local veterinary clinics. In-clinic laboratories can perform basic microbiological testing of milk and other materials related to udder health. Such services can provide valuable information for mastitis control; however, there are many pitfalls to consider when designing or operating a laboratory. Recently, increased focus on responsible antibiotic use by the dairy industry, dairy veterinarians, and society in general has created a greater need for microbial identification prior to antibiotic treatment. The aim of this article is to describe potential uses of an in-house laboratory while also describing some of the potential problems the veterinary practitioner may face. There are a variety of techniques beyond simple milk culture that can be performed in a clinic laboratory. The information provided may help practitioners provide valuable information and service to dairy producers who wish to improve or maintain udder health.