Dairy cattle are tested VERY infrequently.  When the milk truck picks up a batch, they do a simple test at the scene for bacteria count.  This is very easy to thwart by adding a small amount of bleach to the milk which lowers the count.  Not saying that this is done anymore, but have had dairy workers tell me that this is quite common. This is why pasteurization of dairy cow's milk is done routinely.  Normal cow bacteria includes E. coli, a friendly bacteria for dairy.  Not so much for humans.



-----Original Message-----

From: Lactation Information and Discussion [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sarah Vaughan

Sent: Monday, May 27, 2013 12:09 PM

Subject: Re: Practicalities of increasing donor milk availability?



Jane Kershaw wrote:



<IN addition to the collection, storage and redistribution of donated milk, mothers and milk must be tested.  Lab testing can be quite costly.>



Does anyone know why this isn't so for dairy cattle? Surely they have to be tested for stuff like TB? I'm wondering why those (and other) costs are so much higher for human milk than for formula.



Thanks for the link. I'd forgotten about mothers being ineligible to donate after 12 months - so that really does limit the pool of available donors in one very noticeable way that isn't an issue for dairy cattle.



Looking forward to the comments of others on the difference in costs!





Best wishes,



Dr Sarah Vaughan

MBChB MRCGP



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