Macrophages isolated from the involuted bovine mammary gland were cultured in vitro. Phagocytosis of opsonized Staphylococcus aureus occurred rapidly, but intracellular killing of bacteria was slow. Many intracellular staphylococci survived for up to 4 d exposure to extracellular cloxacillin and emerged from within the macrophages to multiply extracellularly when the antibiotic was inactivated. Rifampicin was significantly more efficient than cloxacillin in killing intracellular S. aureus after 18 h incubation, but it too failed to sterilize the cultures within 3 d. Staphylococci, which had remained viable within macrophages during 20 h incubation with extracellular cloxacillin, showed an increased sensitivity to dilute lysostaphin on subsequent exposure. A 3 d course of intramammary therapy with cloxacillin, commencing simultaneously with an infecting inoculum of ∼108 colony forming units (c.f.u.) S. aureus, apparently eliminated the infection from one quarter of the udders of each of three lactating cows, but bacteria were re-isolated from two cows after a delay of several days. However, when other quarters of the same cows were infected with ∼108 c.f.u. S. aureus which had been phagocytosed by autologous mammary macrophages, similar simultaneous antibiotic therapy failed to affect these infections. The in vitro and in vivo findings indicate the significance of intracellular survival of S. aureus as a factor contributing to failure of antibiotic therapy.

First lactation records of a total of 242 Jersey (JH), Brown Swiss (BH) and Holstein-Friesian (FH) halfbreeds from Hariana cows were studied for projecting 300 d milk yield from 12,14,16,18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 weeks’ milk yield. The correlation coefficients between 300 d milk yield and part records ranged from 0·84 to 0·9 in the JH, 0·80 to 0·90 in the BH and 0·72 to 0·86 in the FH groups. Prediction equations and standard errors of estimation for prediction of 300 d milk yield for an individual animal are presented. It is suggested that part records up to 16, 22 and 22 weeks may be used for projecting 300 d yield with sufficient accuracy in the JH, BH and FH groups respectively.

Effects of genetic variants of the milk proteins, αs1-casein, β-casein, κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin (βlg), on milk yield and composition, particularly the protein composition, were investigated in milk samples from 289 Jersey and 249 Friesian cows in eight commercial herds.

Milk protein genotypes had no significant effect on yields over a complete lactation of milk and fat, but significant differences in fat content were detected for β-casein (B, A1B, A2 > A1A2) and βlg (B, AB > A) variants. Significant differences between β-lg variants were also found with total solids (B, AB > A), casein (B, AB > A), whey protein (A > AB > B) and βlg (A > AB, AC > B > BC) concentrations. Casein genotypes were not significantly different in total protein and casein concentrations but many differences were found in casein composition. αs1-Casein variants significantly affected αs1-casein (BC > B) and κ-casein (B > BC) concentrations. β-Casein variants affected concentration and proportion of β-casein (A1B, A2B > A1, A1A2, A2, B), αs1-casein (A1, A2 > B) and κ-casein (B > A2) and concentration of whey protein (A1 > most other β-casein variants). κ-Casein variants affected concentration and proportion of κ-casein (B > AB > A), proportion of αs1-casein (A > AB > B) and concentration of βlg (A > AB, B) and α-lactalbumin (A, AB > B). Differences in milk composition were found between breeds, herds and ages, and with stage of lactation. The potential use of milk protein genotypes as an aid in dairy cattle breeding is discussed.

A practical effective method was devised for the removal of bacteria from soiled glass, rubber and stainless steel pipe sections which allowed the isolation of bacteria more loosely associated with the surfaces. This method, consisting of a pre-rinse followed by six successive double squeegee rinses, was compared with six other procedures (involving scraping followed by one or more successive swabbings) for the removal of bacteria from rubber pipe sections which had been inserted into an experimental milking plant. The squeegee method was found to be the most effective. It was also found that one particular part of these pipe sections was consistently more heavily contaminated.

The composition and weight of deposit formed in all sections of an ultra-high-temperature milk sterilization plant were determined. Deposits formed in the preheating, heating and cooling sections during sterilization of pasteurized whole milk were analysed for dry matter, protein, fat and mineral contents. The weight and composition of components of the deposit varied in different sections of the plant and with the heating temperature. Two categories of deposit could be distinguished: one in the preheating section consisting of (w/w) protein 50%, minerals 40% and fat 1% and another in the heating section consisting of minerals 75%, proteins 15% and fat 3%. Concerning the rate of formation of these deposits, a comparison of the results with those obtained for pasteurization shows that fouling was more rapid during pasteurization of raw milk than during sterilization of previously pasteurized milk. Hypotheses concerning mechanisms of formation of protein deposition are discussed.

The keeping quality (KQ) of whole milks pasteurized at 72 °C, 78 °C or 83 °C for 20 s and stored at 12 or 7 °C was examined by assessment of the naturally contaminating thermoduric microflora and of the numbers of Gram-negative rods, a single strain of the latter being introduced deliberately by post pasteurization inoculation. A pasteurization temperature of 83 °C reduced the KQ at 7 °C by about 15% compared with pasteurization at 72 °C or 78 °C, with a 2 d loss in the absence, and aid loss in the presence, of the post pasteurization contamination. The KQ of milks stored at 12 °C was not significantly affected by the pasteurization temperature. Milks pasteurized at 78 °C tended to have a slightly better KQ than those pasteurized at 72 °C, especially at 7 °C. However, pasteurization at both 78 °C and 83 °C caused a reduction in cream rising and considerably increased the risk of cream plugging.

The temperature at which milk fat was crystallized was found to influence its firmness values, crystalline conformation and the percentage solid fat at 5 °C. Extremely rapid cooling of milk fat using liquid N2 (LNT) gave a product which, although it contained a relatively high solid fat content, was less firm and possessed a wider plastic range than milk fat crystallized at 15, 5 or –20 °C. Polymorphic transitions occurred in the LNT milk fat when it was subsequently held at 15 °C but not at 5 °C. Apparently the particular polymorphic modification has an important role in rheological behaviour.

The viable counts, pH and production of lactic acid were determined for Lactobacillus lactis, L. helveticus and Streptococcus thermophilus after 0, 5 and 24 h anaerobic incubation at 44 °C in skim milk containing 0, 3, 5 or 7μg cadmium (Cd)/l. In skim milk containing 7μg Cd/l, a noticeable decrease in lactic acid production and inhibition of the decrease in pH was observed for all three strains after 24 h, although there was only a slight inhibition of growth. With 3 and 5μg Cd/l, there was only a slight inhibition in the decrease in pH. In addition, with 3 μg Cd/l some evidence of stimulation of lactic acid production was found. The inhibitory effect of low Cd concentrations on lactic acid bacteria may give rise to problems in the dairy industry.

The acetolactate synthase of Leuconostoc lactis NCW1 was studied. The Mn2+ content of cell free extracts was 3·2 µ/mg protein. The enzyme did not require Mn2+ for activity, had an optimum pH between 5 and 6 and was labile. Incubation at 21 °C or addition of thiamine pyrophosphate followed by storage at 4 °C stabilized the enzyme. It was allosteric with at least two binding sites for pyruvate and was inhibited by several products of glucose metabolism (6-phosphogluconate, 3-phosphoglycerate, 2-phosphoglycerate, PEP and ATP) at pH 5·4. Except for ATP, which became more inhibitory, the inhibition disappeared completely (6-phosphogluconate, 2-phosphoglycerate, and PEP) or partly (3-phosphoglycerate) at pH 4·7. The role of these compounds in the regulation of acetoin production from citrate by leuconostocs is discussed.

Sections (1–5 μm thick) of epoxy resin-embedded cheese curd, yogurt, whipped cream and cream cheese were etched by treatment with warm alcoholic NaOH. Thin specimens were produced which could be metal coated and examined by scanning electron microscopy using accelerating voltages of at least 30 kV without producing charging problems. The images observed were easy to interpret and could be used to produce quantitative results. Although native milk fat globules did not survive the etching process, homogenized milk fat was not adversely affected. Critical point drying of etched sections produced results superior to those obtained by air drying.

Glutaraldehyde was used to fix the size distribution of casein micelles in skim milk before their fractionation by permeation chromatography on controlled pore glass. The effect of fixation was assessed by comparing the size and absorption profile for column fractions obtained from samples which were fixed before fractionation with those of unfixed samples and of samples that were fixed only after completion of chromatography. Micelle size was determined by photon correlation spectroscopy. Column profiles were obtained from absorption measurements at 340 nm and after pronase digestion at 280 nm to determine relative protein concentration. For comparative purposes the elution profile was divided into 4 peak areas, of which I-III contained most of the casein micelles, and IV consisted of the smallest micelles, soluble casein and whey protein. Average micelle size was unaltered by fixation but was larger in fractions from prefixed skim milk than those from unfixed samples. Fixation increased the absorbance readings but the elution profile at 340 nm for peak areas I-III was essentially the same for unfixed fractions and those obtained when fixation was applied after chromatography. However, areas I-III accounted for a much larger proportion of the total profile area when the latter procedure was followed. Total profile area increased with fixation time and temperature but this did not affect the elution profile. The results indicate that fixation with glutaraldehyde does not induce artefactual changes in casein micelle size.

A method which was developed for assaying the extracellular lipases of psychrotrophic bacteria in milk (Stead, 1983, 1984) and which uses the fluorogenic substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate has been adapted for use with skim milk powder (SMP), whey powder (WP) and whey protein concentrate (WPC). A five-fold increase in the concentration of sodium taurocholate (NaTC), in the mixture of NaTC and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide needed to dissociate lipase from milk proteins, removed the excessive sensitivity of the assay to variations in the concentrations of SMP, WP or WPC incorporated. Commercially available pancreatic lipase provided a suitable standard of lipolytic activity and as little as 1–2 μ could be detected in each assay system.

Teleme cheese made from milk stored at 4–5 °C for 1–5 d and then pasteurized was compared with that made from unstored control milks. In the raw milks titratable acidity, tyrosine value and acid degree value increased more rapidly in stored milks than in the controls. With pasteurized milks, variations in coagulation times were attributable to levels of psychrotrophs in the corresponding raw milks. Differences were minor for milk fat and N content between cheeses. Curds made from milks stored > 4 d differed markedly from the controls in pH, moisture, N soluble at pH 4·6 and trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-soluble N, but only small differences in levels of casein fragments were detected. Proteolysis in mature cheese (60 d old) made from milk stored > 3 d differed significantly from the controls, and casein fragments were detectable. Off flavour related to excessive protein breakdown developed only in cheese made from milk stored > 4 d. In 60 d old cheeses there was significantly more rancidity in those made from milk stored for > 3 d than in those made from control milk. Unacceptable rancidity became evident at 60 d in cheeses produced from milk stored > 4 d. For Teleme cheesemaking psychrotrophic bacteria multiplying in the milk to levels likely to be encountered in commercial practice are of far greater importance for their lipolytic than for their proteolytic enzymes.

High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the amounts of all-trans retinol, 13-cis retinol and β-carotene in butters on sale in Britain. Samples originating in England and Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark and The Netherlands, and in France were analysed and each type of butter was measured in each season of the year. Fat, water, N and Na contents were also determined. The influence of season and country of origin on vitamin A content and on the level of salting are discussed.