Effects of Milk Storage Duration on Various Tests for Abnormal Milk

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Abstract
The influence of age of Schiff''s reagent on the response of the reflectance Feulgen deoxyribonucleic-acid (DNA) mastitis test was determined. The average values were always higher (indicating less DNA) in aged than in fresh Schiff''s reagents. This difference usually increased with each increase in age of the reagents. The Schiff''s reagent should be discarded after 2 weeks when the color intensity is determined by reflectance spectrophotometry or after 3-4 weeks when the color is scored against a standard color chart. The pH, California Mastitis Test (CMT), Milk Quality Test (MQT), Michigan Mastitis Test (MMT), catalase test and reflectance Feulgen-DNA test values were determined on 40 milk samples after storage. The CMT, MQT and MMT gelation tests declined 0.5, 0.6 and 0.5 of a score, respectively, between days 0 and 4. The pH, catalase and reflectance Feulgen-DNA values were unaffected by the 4-day storage period.