摘要
The objective of this study was to describe the cleaning practices currently used for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec, Canada. In addition, contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves was described using ATP (expressed as relative light units, RLU), visual assessment, and bacteriological analysis. A questionnaire was administered on 50 commercial dairy farms in Quebec, Canada, regarding the self-reported cleaning protocol used for feeding equipment of preweaning calves. During the visit, a visual score was given to the feeding equipment available at the farm. Afterward, ATP luminometry measurements were obtained using Hygiene UltraSnap and MicroSnap swabs (Hygiene, Camarillo, CA), and the liquid rinsing technique for buckets, nipples, bottles, esophageal tube feeders (ET), the tube of automatic milk feeders (AMF), water samples, and milk replacer. An additional direct swabbing technique was performed on buckets and nipples. The fluid retrieved from the liquid rinsing technique was also used to determine the total bacterial count (TBC) and total coliform count. Based on the bacteriological analysis, optimal RLU cutoff values to determine contamination were obtained. The median (interquartile range) luminometer measurements using the UltraSnap and direct technique for buckets and nipples were 2,082 (348–7,410) and 3,462 (462–7,518) RLU, respectively; and, using the liquid technique for bottles, ET, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 43 (4–974), 15 (4–121), 301 (137–1,323), 190 (71–358), and 94 (38–218) RLU, respectively. Overall, for all equipment and both techniques used, higher RLU values were seen in UltraSnap samples compared with MicroSnap samples. Additionally, for buckets and nipples, higher RLU values were obtained for the direct swabbing method compared with the liquid sampling method for both swabs used. No differences in the level of contamination were seen between the different feeding equipment used within a farm. Overall, a higher correlation with bacteriological results was noticed for ATP luminometry compared with the visual score, with a high correlation for nipples and bottles using the UltraSnap and liquid technique. Based on the classification of “contaminated” (TBC ≥100,000 cfu/mL) or “not contaminated” (TBC <100,000 cfu/mL), optimal ATP luminometer cutoff values for buckets, nipples, bottles, AMF, water, and milk replacer were 798, 388, 469, 282, 1,432, and 93 RLU, respectively. No clear association was found between ATP measurements and the self-reported cleaning protocol. This study gave new insights into the current cleaning procedures and contamination of feeding equipment for preweaning calves on dairy farms in Quebec. In addition, ATP luminometry cutoff values could help benchmark farms regarding cleaning practices and provide customized advice, improving the overall hygiene management, and thus the health, of preweaning calves on dairy farms.
摘要译文
这项研究的目的是描述加拿大魁北克奶牛场预先用来预断奶犊牛的清洁措施。此外，使用ATP（表示为相对光单元，RLU），视觉评估和细菌学分析描述了用于断奶前犊牛的喂养设备的污染。在加拿大魁北克的50个商业奶牛场上进行了调查表，涉及用于喂养犊牛的喂养设备的自我报告的清洁协议。在访问期间，对农场可用的喂养设备给出了视觉分数。之后，使用卫生UltrasNAP和Microsnap拭子（卫生，Camarillo，CA）以及用于桶，乳头，瓶子，食管瓶喂食器（ET），自动牛奶馈线的管（AMF）的管（AMF）的液体冲洗技术获得了ATP发光测量。水样和牛奶替代品。在水桶和乳头上进行了另一种直接擦拭技术。从液体冲洗技术中获取的流体也用于确定总细菌计数（TBC）和总大肠菌数。根据细菌学分析，获得了确定污染的最佳RLU截止值。使用UltrasNAP和乳头的直接技术的中值（四分位间范围）测量值分别为2,082（348–7,410）和3,462（462–7,518）RLU；并且，使用用于瓶子，ET，AMF，水和牛奶替代品的液体技术为43（4-974），15（4-121），301，301（137–1,323），190（71-358）和94（71-358）和94（38–218）RLU。总体而言，对于所有使用的设备和两种技术，与微号样品相比，在超声样品中看到了更高的RLU值。此外，对于水桶和乳头，与两种使用的拭子的液体采样方法相比，直接擦拭方法获得了较高的RLU值。在农场内使用的不同喂养设备之间没有看到污染水平的差异。总体而言，与视觉评分相比，ATP发光学的相关性与细菌学结果相关性更高，使用UltrasNAP和液体技术，乳头和瓶子的相关性很高。基于“受污染”（TBC≥100,000cfu/ml）或“未污染”（TBC <100,000 cfu/ml）的分类，最佳的ATP ATP Luminometer临界值的桶，乳头，瓶子，瓶子，AMF，AMF，水和牛奶替代品是分别为798、388、469、282、1,432和93 RLU。在ATP测量和自我报告的清洁方案之间未发现明确的关联。这项研究给出了有关当前清洁程序的新见解，以及对魁北克奶牛场预先断奶犊牛的喂养设备的污染。此外，ATP发光计截止值可以帮助基准农场关于清洁实践的基准农场，并提供定制的建议，改善奶牛场预惠犊牛的整体卫生管理，从而改善健康。