这项研究的目的是描述目前用于魁北克奶牛场断奶前小牛的清洁做法,加拿大。此外,使用ATP发光法(表示为相对光单位(RLU))描述了断奶前小牛的饲喂设备的污染,视觉评估和细菌学分析。对魁北克的50个商业奶牛场进行了问卷调查,加拿大,关于用于断奶前小牛饲喂设备的自我报告清洁方案。访问期间,对农场可用的喂养设备进行了视觉评分。之后,使用HygieneUltraSnap和MicroSnap拭子以及水桶的液体冲洗技术获得了ATP发光测量,乳头,瓶子,食管导管进料器(ET),自动喂奶器(AMF)的管,水样,和牛奶替代品。在桶和乳头上进行另一种直接擦拭技术。从液体冲洗技术回收的流体也用于确定总细菌计数(TBC)和总大肠杆菌计数(TCC)。根据细菌学分析,获得了确定污染的最佳RLU截止值。使用UltraSnap和直接技术对水桶和乳头进行的中值(四分位距)光度计测量为2,082(348-7,410)RLU和3,462(462-7,518)RLU,分别,使用液体技术制造瓶子,ET,AMF,水和牛奶替代品为43(4-974)RLU,15(4-121)RLU,301(137-1,323)RLU,190(71-358)RLU和94(38-218)RLU,分别。总的来说,对于使用的所有设备和两种技术,与MicroSnap样品相比,UltraSnap样品的RLU值更高。此外,水桶和乳头,与使用两种拭子的液体采样方法相比,直接拭子方法获得了更高的RLU值.在农场内使用的不同进料设备之间没有发现污染水平的差异。总的来说,与视觉评分相比,ATP发光法与细菌学结果的相关性更高,使用UltraSnap和液体技术,乳头和瓶子具有很高的相关性。根据“受污染”(TBC≥100,000cfu/mL)或“未受污染”(TBC<100,000cfu/mL)的分类,桶的最佳ATP光度计截止值,乳头,瓶子,AMF,水,牛奶替代品是798RLU,388RLU,469RLU,282RLU,1,432个RLU和93个RLU,分别。在ATP测量和自我报告的清洁方案之间没有发现明显的关联。这项研究为魁北克奶牛场断奶前小牛的当前清洁程序和饲养设备污染提供了新的见解。此外,ATP光度测定的截止值可以帮助农场对清洁实践进行基准测试,并提供定制建议,改善整体卫生管理,因此健康,在奶牛场的断奶前小牛中。
The objective of this study was to describe the cleaning practices currently used for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada. In addition, contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves was described using ATP (expressed as relative light units, RLU), visual assessment, and bacteriological analysis. A questionnaire was administered on 50 commercial dairy farms in Quebec, Canada, regarding the self-reported cleaning protocol used for feeding equipment of preweaning calves. During the visit, a visual score was given to the feeding equipment available at the farm. Afterward, ATP luminometry measurements were obtained using Hygiene UltraSnap and MicroSnap swabs (Hygiene, Camarillo, CA), and the liquid rinsing technique for buckets, nipples, bottles, esophageal tube feeders (ET), the tube of automatic milk feeders (AMF), water samples, and milk replacer. An additional direct swabbing technique was performed on buckets and nipples. The fluid retrieved from the liquid rinsing technique was also used to determine the total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count. Based on the bacteriological analysis, optimal RLU cutoff values to determine contamination were obtained. The median (interquartile range) luminometer measurements using the UltraSnap and direct technique for buckets and nipples were 2,082 (348-7,410) and 3,462 (462-7,518) RLU, respectively; and, using the liquid technique for bottles, ET, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 43 (4-974), 15 (4-121), 301 (137-1,323), 190 (71-358), and 94 (38-218) RLU, respectively. Overall, for all equipment and both techniques used, higher RLU values were seen in UltraSnap samples compared with MicroSnap samples. Additionally, for buckets and nipples, higher RLU values were obtained for the direct swabbing method compared with the liquid sampling method for both swabs used. No differences in the level of contamination were seen between the different feeding equipment used within a farm. Overall, a higher correlation with bacteriological results was noticed for ATP luminometry compared with the visual score, with a high correlation for nipples and bottles using the UltraSnap and liquid technique. Based on the classification of \"contaminated\" (TBC ≥100,000 cfu/mL) or \"not contaminated\" (TBC <100,000 cfu/mL), optimal ATP luminometer cutoff values for buckets, nipples, bottles, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 798, 388, 469, 282, 1,432, and 93 RLU, respectively. No clear association was found between ATP measurements and the self-reported cleaning protocol. This study gave new insights into the current cleaning procedures and contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec. In addition, ATP luminometry cutoff values could help benchmark farms regarding cleaning practices and provide customized advice, improving the overall hygiene management, and thus the health, of preweaning calves on dairy farms.