Laboratory

Milk quality laboratory

We perform mastitis and other milk quality cultures in-house.
We use procedures standardized by the University of Minnesota and National Mastitis Council and are certified by the Quality Milk Production Services at Cornell University.
Why culture? Our goal for individual cultures of quarters with clinical mastitis is to provide rapid results for use in culture-based treatment. We determine the organism causing the infection and report results for use in selecting treatment. Click here to read more...
See below for a complete list of the lab services we offer.

Before submitting samples for the first time, please call our office for instructions on sample collection, labeling, and handling.
Preliminary results are reported at 24 hours after plating and final results are reported at approximately 48 hours. Results can be reported by phone, email, or fax.
Individual milk samples not delivered to our office within 12 hours of collection should be frozen.
Samples arriving within 12 hours should be refrigerated.
In order for samples to be plated on the same day of submission, frozen samples should arrive by 2:00 pm and refrigerated samples by 3:00 pm. Samples received after 3:00 pm are plated next day.

Individual Milk Culture (single quarter)	5 cc of milk, collected aseptically into a sterile flip-top, plastic tube (frozen or refrigerated)
Prototheca Milk Culture (single quarter or composite)	5 cc of milk, collected aseptically into a sterile flip-top, plastic tube (frozen or refrigerated)
Mycoplasma Milk Culture (composite)	5 cc of milk, collected aseptically into a sterile flip-top, plastic tube (frozen or refrigerated)
Bulk Tank Culture +/- Prototheca Isolation	Bulk tank milk samples from 3 consecutive pick-ups of milk (freeze immediately)
Colostrum Culture	Call for sampling instructions
Calf Milk Culture	Call for sampling instructions
Bedding Culture	2 cups of bedding (sand, sawdust, etc.) in a clean, sealed bag (refrigerated)
Towel Culture	Clean towel in clean, sealed bag (refrigerated)
Water Culture	100 cc of water collected aseptically into a sterile container (refrigerated)

Colostrum Brix Analysis	5 cc fresh colostrum
Fecal Parasite Exam	10 cc fresh manure (refrigerated)
Serum Total Protein Analysis	Blood in red-top or tiger-top tube (refrigerated)
Complete Blood Count	Blood in purple top tube (refrigerated, make sure to invert several times after collection)
Large Animal Profile	Blood in red-top or tiger-top tube (refrigerated)