Methods for Examining the Microflora of Mouldy Hay

A comparison of four methods of estimating the microflora of mouldy hay showed that more micro-organisms were removed by washing samples than by blowing in a small wind tunnel. By contrast, actinomycete spores were estimated more efficiently from air using an Anderson Sampler than by plating diluted washings because fewer bacteria were blown than washed off the hay. Estimates of fungal spores were larger from counts in haemocytometer cells than by dilution plating but counts of actinomycetes and bacteria were higher by dilution plating. Fungi grew equally well from air or water suspensions and with the Cascade Impactor and Anderson Sampler their numbers were estimated with less variation than for the numbers of 'actinomycetes and bacteria'even on improved media and after correcting for viability, clumping and interference between colonies.