Udder disease and membrane material in milk
Anderson, M.; Brooker, B.E.
Research in Veterinary Science 16(3): 397-399
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-5288 PMID: 4855294 Document Number: 76630
When skimmed milk is centrifuged at high speed, a fluffy layer rich in membrane fragments may form next to the sedimented casein. It is probably derived from the plasmalemma of mammary alveolar cells. Occurrence of the membrane-rich fluffy layer was studied in milk samples from individual quarters which were either bacteriologically infected or disease-free. A fluffy layer containing leucocytes was observed only in the infected quarters. The appearance of the layer differed between quarters and between cows. These observations are discussed in relation to the proposed origin of the fluffy layer. The amount and type of fluffy layer might be used to indicate the extent and origin of udder inflammation.