Paratuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, is an important chronic enteric disease of domestic cattle. The major routes of infection are the oral ingestion of contaminated manure, milk, and colostrum. Infection by contaminated colostrum is the most important route. This route has three times higher rate of infection than from ordinary milk (Robet et al, 1995).

Prevention of infection via contaminated colostrum will play an important role towards controlling Paratuberculosis. Development of colostrum pasteurization protocols which inactivates pathogens without affecting important beneficial fractions of colostrum is the objective of the studies.

1. Establishment pasteurization of colostrum

Pasteurization of milk is commonly done at 62-65C for 30 minutes, however similarly treating colostrum results in coagulation. The investigative objective is to develop practical methodology and method(s) capable of deactivating pathogens such as M. paratuberculosis, Salmonella spp., leukaemia virus etc., without inactivating the beneficial colostrum fractions such as immunoglobulin. In our studies, results indicated that pasteurizing colostrum at 60C for 30 minutes meets our objective and also avoids coagulation.

1. Development of "Colostrum pasteurizer" devise

A prototype "Colostrum Pasteurizer" which can be easily and routinely utilized by farmers was developed and tested. The prototype had a maximum capacity of treating ten liters of colostrum per cycle. Ten liters of colostrum to be pasteurized is poured into a vesicle and placed into the water tank. The vesicle contents are stirred continuously during pasteurization process. The temperature, duration, and stirring are automated to achieve the optimal 60C for 30 minutes and shutdown.

1. Using "Colostrum Pasteurizer" at dairy farms

Modifications to prototype were made and a commercial model has been marketed since November, 2005. At present, there has been no report of transmission of Paratuberculosis from colostrum treated by "Colostrum Pasteuriser". Field reports indicate the decrease of the frequency of diarrhea in calves fed pasteurized colostrum. These reports suggest the use of "Colostrum Pasteurizer" reduces incidences of diarrhea by deactivating diarrhea causing pathogens.

Prevention of infections through contaminated colostrum will contribute to Paratuberculosis eradication program in Japan. Additionally, pasteurized colostrum will prevent other infectious diseases caused by contaminated colostrum such as leukaemia and decrease calf diarrhea cases by decreasing total bacterial count in colostrum.