Effect of frequent milkings on milk NAGase, plasmin, trypsin inhibitory capacity and the quality of whey as the growth medium for mastitis pathogens

Unequal milking intervals affected milk somatic cell count and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) activity. The total daily output of milk NAGase and plasmin decreased, if quarters were emptied frequently during the day. Mastitis pathogens showed stimulated growth in whey prepared from filled quarters as compared with growth in whey from quarters emptied frequently during the day. The quality of whey as growth medium for mastitis pathogens paralleled plasmin activity in respective milk samples. Adaptation of mastitis pathogens to grow in whey had an enhancing effect on bacterial growth during subsequent inoculations in whey. Bacteria probably "learn" to overcome the effect from endogenous antibacterial factors and to use nutrients present in whey.