An Unusual Outbreak of Ropy Milk

Abstract

Summary An outbreak of ropy milk occurring in Iowa, that was unusual in the time of year it appeared, was studied and found to be due to an organism quite different than the type usually responsible for ropy milk. The organism, which was studied morphologically, culturally, and bio-chemically, was closely related to M. mucofaciens (Thoni and Thaysen) and was also somewhat like M. Freudenreichii (Guillebeau) but showed characters that made it seem desirable to designate it as a new species, Staph. cremorisviscosi . Some time after the disappearance of the trouble the causative organism was found in the udders of cows in the producing herd. It was impossible, however, to tell whether the invasion of the udders preceded or followed the outbreak of ropy milk; in either case conditions were different when the milk carefully drawn from the udders was examined than when the outbreak occurred since when the examination was made the milk was no longer developing ropiness.