ROUTINE RESAZURIN TEST RESULTS AND THERMODURIC BACTERIAL CONTENT OF MILK SAMPLES AS A MEASURE OF MILK PRODUCTION CONDITIONS

The milk production conditions on 44 farms (18 designated and 26 non-designated) have been assessed by score-card marks for visual conditions, facilities, equipment, and methods. Over a period of one year fortnightly samples from these farms were subjected to routine resazurin tests and laboratory pasteurized counts. The results were compared with the total score-card marks and the equipment assessments of the farms. It was found that neither test alone sufficed to detect unsatisfactory production, but failure on the two tests combined agreed well with the production conditions and facilities.
The relation of season and mean shade atmospheric temperature to the thermoduric bacterial content of the milk was studied but no clear association was observed.