NORTHERN VALLEY LIVESTOCK SERVICES

laboratory services

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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.

milk quality lab services

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)

other lab services

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)
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