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Department of Animal Sciences

CFAES

Milk Quality

Mastitis and Milk Quality

Milk is nutrient dense, which makes it an excellent medium to foster bacterial growth. Infection causes inflammation and pain in the cow and also reduces milk quality through production of fermentation products and rancidity. Management practices that prevent new infections and those that reduce the severity of the infection are desirable. Research done by Dr. Joseph Hogan (emeritus) and Dr. Larry Smith (retired) addresses the disease of bovine mastitis and milk quality and includes both bacteriological and immunological dimensions. The OARDC Dairy Nutrition lab has been evaluating field samples of bovine milk for many years and continues to evaluate microbial populations in the milk samples of both experimental and commercial cows. This information has been instrumental in developing or refining management approaches on dairy herds including milking management, bedding management, diet formulation, and vaccine development and use.