The hygienic quality of raw reindeer milk

• Published in: Rangifer
• Main Authors: Joanna Kurki, Anna Pitkälä, Mauri Nieminen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 2004
• Subjects: bacterial count; food pathogens; food safety; mastitis; Rangifer tarandus; somatic cell count; Animal culture; SF1-1100; Rangifer
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.7557/2.24.2.302; https://doaj.org/article/3da01b30f208416ba90ec9e2f4c8db50

The somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) as well as the presence of major food-borne pathogens and udder pathogens in reindeer raw milk were studied. Two groups of 4 female reindeer were milked on alternate days for six weeks. A milk sample from each quarter was taken before milking and of the bulk milk at the end of milking. Micrococcus sp. was observed in one, Staphylococcus aureus in one and coagulase-negative staphylococci in five of the quarter samples (n=318). In the bulk milk (n=19) TBC varied between 700 and 1 700 000 cfu (colony forming units)/ml and SCC between 52 000 and 183 000 cells/ml. No Bacillus cereus, S. aureus or Listeria monocytogenes were detected in the bulk milk, but Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae were found in 5 bulk milk samples. According to the bacteriological examination the udder health of the reindeer was good. Indicative information on the SCC of healthy reindeer was obtained. None of the common potential food-poisoning bacteria were found in raw milk. There was great variation in the bulk milk TBC and the average TBC was rather high (ca. 300 000 cfu/ml). The hygienic quality of raw reindeer milk makes it well suited for food manufacture. However, the results indicate that the milking conditions may be crucial for the quality of raw milk. Abstract in Finnish / Yhteenveto: Tutkimuksen kohteena oli poron raakamaidon solupitoisuus ja kokonaispesäkeluku sekä tärkeimpien elintarvike- ja utarepatogeenien esiintyminen raakamaidossa. Kaksi 4 vaatimen ryhmää lypsettiin vuoropäivinä 6 viikon ajan. Ennen lypsyä vaatimista otettiin vedinkohtaiset näytteet ja lypsyn päätyttyä näyte yhteismaidosta. Micrococcus sp. todettiin yhdessä, Staphylococcus aureus yhdessä ja koagulaasinegatiivisia stafylokokkeja viidessä vedinkohtaisessa näytteessä (n=318). Yhteismaitonäytteiden (n=19) kokonaispesäkeluvut vaihtelivat välillä 700-1 700 000 pmy (pesäkkeitä muodostava yksikkö)/ml ja somaattisten solujen määrät välillä 52 000-183 000 kpl/ml. Yhteismaitonäytteissä ei todettu ...