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A left-in-place group milk sampler can improve disease monitoring in dairy herds
T.
Clarke A F,
R. S.
Deveraux B,
N.
Madison C,
M. C.
Hannah A,
S. E.
Ridge D,
L.
Ryan C,
H. A.
Wientjes E
A
Department of Primary Industries, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.
B
The University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus, Dookie, Vic. 3467, Australia.
C
The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
D
Chief Veterinary Officer’s Unit, Department of Primary Industries, Attwood, Vic. 3049, Australia.
E
Wageningen University and Research Centre Costerweg 50, Building 400, Wageningen 6701 BH, The Netherlands.
F
Corresponding author. Email: tim.clarke@dpi.vic.gov.au
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Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 47(9) 1104–1108 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/EA06210
Submitted: 31 July 2006
Accepted: 21 June 2007
Published online: 6 August 2007
Abstract
A novel milk sampler (MilkThief) is described. It can collect representative samples of milk to be used for disease monitoring from groups of cows during a milking session. The maximum dilution of each individual cow’s milk did not exceed a 1 : 45 limit when we tested the sampler in a range of Australian dairies. Such a dilution limit has been shown by others to be efficient for the detection of enzootic bovine leucosis when the ‘Lactelisa’ method is used. The samplers and collection flasks are conveniently left in place for the whole milking session. The sampling volume can be manipulated so that the combined sample collected from up to 10 cows can be held in a flask of 220-mL capacity. The sampler can be easily fitted to any milking machine.
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