Farm Inspection Scores and Milk Quality Criteria as Indices of Salmonella in Bulk Milk

Abstract

The scores from routine dairy farm inspections, bulk milk standard plate bacteria counts, and somatic cell counts from dairy farms with Salmonella-positive milk filters (cases) were compared with those from dairy farms with Salmonella-negative milk filters (controls). Case and control farms showed no significant differences in their inspection scores based on general surroundings of the farm, milking area and cleanliness of milking cows, but differed in the higher mean score for milk houses of case farms. Additionally, there were no differences in the standard plate counts or somatic cell counts between case and control farms. Based on the results of this study, there is no evidence that poor dairy inspection scores, high standard plate counts or high somatic cell counts are useful indicators of the presence of Salmonella in bulk milk supplies from dairy farms.