Preliminary Incubation Count for Measuring Raw Milk Quality
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Using Preliminary Incubation Count for Measuring Raw Milk Quality

The Preliminary Incubation (PI) Count for measuring the quality of raw milk has become increasingly popular since the production of quality milk is the number one goal of dairy farmers and cooperatives. The PI test is especially sensitive to psychrotrophic bacteria. These particular bacteria can grow at colder temperatures, which is why dairy processors are encouraging…

BTSCCs Milk Quality & Udder Health
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Using Bulk-Tank Somatic Cell Counts for Monitoring Milk Quality and Udder Health

Bulk-tank somatic cell counts (BTSCCs) are measured and monitored from Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs) to determine the quality of the milk supply in the U.S. BTSCCs are defined as the number of white blood cells, secretory cells, and squamous cells per milliliter of raw milk. Milk processors monitor BTSCCs in the nation’s milk shipments…

Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) and Profits
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Impact of Somatic Cell Counts on Dairy Farmers

Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) is not just a scientific term of academic interest, it has real-world implications for every dairy farmer. Simply put, lowering SCC leads to increased profits. That’s not just us saying so, we recently ran across this article, Somatic Cell Count Impacts Everything by Mike Lormore, DVM, MS, MBA, Director Cattle Technical…

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)—Testing, Detecting, and Controlling
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Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)—Testing, Detecting, and Managing

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) can have a devastating impact on dairy herds. Management of the disease requires a comprehensive program of vaccinations and monitoring. Persistent infection (PI) carriers of the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) can pose a real and ongoing threat to overall herd health. The Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center’s website indicates that…

Aseptic and representative sampling system from QualiTru
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Aseptic and Representative Sampling for Dairy Farms — Importance of Being Proactive (Part 2)

Aseptic and representative sampling for dairy farms is a big topic. This post is the second part of an in-depth conversation I had with Denise Sutton, our DFA Farm Supplies partner’s Sales Manager. Denise’s extensive experience in the dairy farm industry ranges from being a herd manager and running a dairy farm, being a trusted…

Representative sampling for dairy farms
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Representative Sampling Solves Two Critical Problems for Dairy Farmers – Part 1

How does representative sampling solve two crucial problems for dairy farmers? Recently, I had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with Denise Sutton, Large Farm Sales Manager at DFA Farm Supplies. She has extensive experience in the dairy farm industry, including being a herd manager and running a dairy farm. Denise is also a…

aseptic sampling dairy industry
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Aseptic Sampling Earned Trust and Transparency

Prior to Covid-19 travel restrictions, I made a visit to the Czech Republic. It was an eye-opening experience in the value of relationships, but also the range of trust in dairy. The Czech Republic has a growing dairy industry and some of the largest farms in Europe, with 1,000 head of dairy cows and some…