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The objective of the studies reported in this research communication was to investigate differences in composition and enzymatic activities in bulk milk samples provided from Swedish dairy farms with different management systems, i.e. automated (AMS) and conventional milking systems (CMS). A bulk milk sample was collected from each of 104 dairy farms, 51 using AMS and 53 using CMS, located in the same geographical region. Sampling took place within two consecutive days during the indoor period (October). Milk samples were analysed for contents of total fat and protein, free fatty acids (FFA), caseins and whey proteins, somatic cell count (SCC), pH, plasmin and plasminogen derived activities, and total proteolysis. Our results showed a lower protein content and higher SCC in bulk milk from AMS herds compared with milk from CMS herds. Plasmin, plasminogen and total plasmin/ plasminogen derived activities were lower in milk from AMS herds but despite this, total casein and the ß-casein fraction as % of total protein were lower in milk from AMS herds than in milk from herds using CMS. Total proteolysis was higher in milk from AMS herds, suggesting that other proteases than plasmin, e.g. cellular and bacterial proteases, contributed to the degradation of casein. This was supported by a positive correlation between SCC and total proteolysis (P < 0·01), as well as a negative correlation between total proteolysis and ß-casein fraction (P < 0·05). In conclusion, comparing the quality of bulk milk from commercial dairy herds using AMS and CMS, respectively, several differences were observed, suggesting a significant effect from management system.

This study investigated the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in dairy calves in southern Vietnam. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of 84 calves from 41 smallholder dairy farms, when newborn and at 14 days of age for isolation of E. coli. Escherichia coli strains were isolated from 144 of the 168 fecal samples tested. Of the 144 E. coli isolates, 40% were found to be susceptible to all 12 antimicrobial drugs tested and 53% of the E. coli isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobials. Calves were colonized with antimicrobial-resistant E. coli already on the day of birth. Resistance to tetracycline was most common, followed by resistance to sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. Four isolates carried a gene encoding for extended-spectrum cephalosporinases (ESC), and these genes belonged to bla CTX-M group 1 (2 isolates), bla CTX-M group 9 (1 isolate), and bla CMY-2 (1 isolate). Thirty-three isolates had a plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) phenotype, and 30 of these carried the qnr S gene. These results are of importance for management routines of dairy cattle to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

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Prevention of biofilm formation in milking equipment is important to ensure good hygiene quality of raw milk. Key factors to achieving good results are a successful cleaning procedure and a method to check the cleanliness of milking equipment surfaces. Adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence is a fast and easy method for investigating bacterial contamination of surfaces. However, previous studies on the potential of ATP bioluminescence to assess the hygiene status of milking equipment have been hampered by lack of a validated test procedure. The aim of this work was therefore to establish a test procedure for assessing the cleanliness of milking equipment using ATP bioluminescence, and apply the method on-farm to study the hygiene status of aging rubber material in milking equipment. In developing the test procedure, the effects of sampling location in tubes and liners, sampling of dry versus wet barrels, milking point in the parlor, and acid or alkali detergent on ATP values were investigated. The results showed that, to obtain reproducible results, replicate sampling from the same milking points in the parlor is important. For milk tubes, samples should preferably be taken from the milk meter side, for liners on the inside of the barrel. For best results, sampling should be performed after use of alkali detergent. No beneficial effect was observed of sampling dry liner barrels, so sampling in the standardized test procedure is performed directly after cleaning. The standardized test procedure was used on 3 different commercial farms and sampling was initiated after replacement of old rubber parts. On one of the farms, additional sampling was performed to evaluate total bacteria count and determine the association with ATP level. The results suggest that, provided an efficient cleaning procedure is used, the hygiene quality of milking equipment can be maintained during the recommended lifetime of the rubberware. However, due to occasional variation in cleaning efficiency between milking points and liner barrels, random sampling on single occasions can lead to incorrect conclusions. Replicate sampling over time is therefore important for correct interpretation of ATP bioluminescence data. If ATP levels are very high, complementary sampling for total bacteria count should be used to verify that the level is due to bacterial contamination, and not other organic ATP-contributing material (e.g., milk residues).