High bacterial count a risk at this time

HIGH total bacterial count (TBC) can be a problem at this time of year, unless very good hygiene is practiced.

Milk should have a TBC of less than 1,000/ml leaving the cow, 3,000 leaving the milking machine, and 5,000 in the bulk tank. After storage for three days at two degrees, this milk will be about 15,000 for TBC. If the temperature is four degrees, it will be at 30,000 TBC, and 100,000 TBC at six degrees.

After four days of storage, expected TBCs are 50,000, 100,000 and one million, respectively, for these bulk tank temperatures.