Lactococcus spp., yeasts and Pseudomonas spp. on teats and udders of milking cows as potential sources of milk contamination
Abstract
Thirty-nine samples of refrigerated raw milk were collected on site from 20 dairy farms. Thirty per cent of teats and udders were cotton swabbed in each herd. The presence of Lactococcus spp., yeasts and Pseudomonas spp. was evaluated. The level of contamination of samples varied greatly from one farm to another. Average Lactococcus spp. counts were 3.4 × 102 cfu mL−1 in milk, 2.6 × 103 cfu per total area on teats and 7.7 × 102 per 25cm2 on udders. Average yeasts counts were of 6.9 × 10, 4.8 × 102 and 3.0 × 102 for milk, teats and udders, respectively, while average Pseudomonas spp. counts were of 5.8 × 102, 2.1 × 104 and 6.2 × 103. Variations in the level of Lactococcus spp. and yeasts in milk were not linked with their levels on teats and udders.