Pasteurisation of calf milk routine in UK

Pasteurisation of calf milk and colostrum is a standard procedure in North America, and it is fast becoming routine practice on UK farms, according to G Shepherd Animal Health, which launched a new pasteuriser at last week’s Livestock 2013 event in Birmingham.

Their MilkWorks Gold machine removes disease-causing microorganisms from colostrum (including bugs that spread Johne’s, TB, salmonella, rotavirus and mycoplasma).

This greatly reduces the risk of transmissible diseases being passed from adult animals to their calves via colostrum. The machine can chill, pasteurise, thaw and reheat colostrum within a single unit. Such machines are recommended for farmers who offer young calves pooled colostrum, before moving them on to milk replacer powder.