Impact of Rodenticides on the Coagulation Properties of Milk

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the impact of the rodenticides (strychnine, bromadiolone, and brodifacoum) on milk pH, rennet coagulation time (RCT), and coagulum strength. Sub-lethal amounts of strychnine and bromadiolone produced an unnaturally large change in milk pH, compared to brodifacoum and brodifacoum on milk coagulation properties. All three studied rodenticides significantly affected RCT and coagulum strength. The presence of sub-lethal amounts of each individual rodenticide increased RCT by an overall mean of 17% (p < 0.001). Rodenticide contamination decreased coagulum strength by an overall mean of 26% (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that such changes could be noticeable at the farm, thus, potentially averting the mixture of contaminated milk with the tanker supply, and preventing downstream distribution to consumers.

Accidental chlorophacinone exposure of lactating ewes: Clinical follow-up and human health dietary implications

“…2). If this chlorophacinone concentration in milk is used to assess the human health risk associated with consumption, one standard adult would have to drink 14.3L of milk to reach this dosage, or eat 2.4 kg of ewe cheese [(as 6 L of milk are needed to make 1 kg of cheese; this assumes that the AR would not affect the coagulation properties of milk, which may not be the case [25] and that cheese formation would not affect AR concentration]. To provide even a more accurate estimate, one should use the concentration found in the entire milk tank (i.e., a mixture of milk from all 23 ewes) rather than the greatest value found in a single animal at the beginning of the accidental exposure period.…”