Calves with Sam

Checking for Cleaning via Luminometer

Interesting data from University of Guelph research team on the connection between luminometer readings and laboratory bacteria culture results are found in this report:

"Validation of commercial luminometry swabs for total bacteria and coliform counts in colostrum-feeding equipment." (Journal of Dairy Science, 100:9459-9465 October 2017).

Using the test equipment available to the general public (Hygiena luminometer and various test swabs) they conclude that the Aqua-Snap Total and Microshap Coliform swabs are an acceptable alternative to traditional bacteria counts to evaluate cleanliness of colostrum-feeding equipment. About 59% of their surfaces has bacteria counts of at least 100,000cfu/ml - so they had plenty of dirty surfaces to check.

Note that they used rinse samples (15ml sterile water rinsed the surfaces to be tested).

At our vet clinic we use the Ultra-Snap testing swaps (direct collection from dry surfaces with moistened swabs). The data below are from a commercial dairy June 2016-July2017. Note the up and down pattern at certain sample sites. Acceptable ATP values were selected by the dairy.

Sanitation Audit Data
Acceptable ATP values: Feeding equipment <100, Environment<250
Location	Sample Site	Swab Site	14-Jun	14-Sep	13-Oct	10-Nov	22-Dec	30-Jun	26-Jul
			2016	2016	2016	2016	2016	2017	2017
Milk room	milker bucket newer	inside 1/3 down	48	46	56	6	10	7	80
	milker bucket older	inside 1/3 down	259	45	17	11	10	11	121
	plastic lid	underside, under gask.	741	5298	118	93	34	41	58
Utility room	Tube feeder	inside bottle 2" - refrig	33	10	0	66	77	20 & 6	2&7
(calving)	Tube feeder (ss)	inside tube - top 2"	11	1404	0	4	59	3592	1
	Tube feeder (ss)	inside tube - ball 2"	995	3458	0	60	0	340	44
	Holding pen	plastic side - 1 ft.up	443	1167	555	1150	548	577	389
Garage	Past. Milk discharge	inside hose 2 inches	0	9	1	3	44	115	19
Gator	Trans. Tank	inside top	21	101	0	0	0	7	6
	Trans. Tank	end of hose	2	422	5	0	2	10	156
	Trans. Tank	feeding hose outlet	2	0	2	0	0	3	19&95
	Nursing bottle	inside bottle 2 inches	83	3027	n/a	n/a	0	n/a	131
	Nursing nipple	inside surface	7	7976	n/a	n/a	1363	n/a	208
Hutches	Fdg. Pail 1 wk.(new)	inside 1/3 down	144	2719	41	623	1	Rain	179
	Fdg. Pail 1 wk.(old)	inside 1/3 down	76	1919	24	500	0	Rain	33
	Fdg. Pail 4 wks.	inside 1/3 down	91	1020	213	225	90	Rain	1159*
	Hutch surface 1 wk	inside across from fdr	26	5989	925	289	209	Rain	621
Kane	Grain fdr. 1 wk.	front edge tray	41	240	74	30	191	Rain	n/a
Kane	Grain fdr. 4 wks.	front edge tray	132	1158	428	54	59	Rain	1458
	Bold = Needs Improvement					*second pail = 2347