Misco Palm Abbe Digital Dairy™ Refractometer

Misco Palm Abbe Digital Dairy™ Refractometers

Misco Digital Dairy™ DD-1 Refractometer

The DD-1 Digital-Dairy Refractometer will directly read the percent solids in waste milk and can also measure colostrum quality using the Brix method. The MISCO Digital-Dairy™ refractometers are specifically designed to help professional dairy farmers and calf ranchers to rear healthy calves. They are rugged enough to withstand the demands of farm use, yet precise enough to give laboratory-quality readings.

Nonsalable waste milk has been fed to calves for many years and represents a source of nutrition that is readily available, has few other uses, and is cheaper to feed than whole milk. However, solids content and bacteria levels are two problems associated with waste milk feeding. Since the DD-1 Digital-Dairy refractometer reads directly in solids content, it only takes a few drops of milk to quickly determine the percent solids and adjust them to desired levels with calf milk replacer. Another quick test for bacterial contamination and milk spoilage can be conducted using a pH meter.

Misco Digital Dairy™ DD-2 Refractometer

The DD-2 Digital-Dairy Refractometer will provide reliable estimates of the percent solids in waste milk and colostrum quality using the Brix Method, Blood serum total protein concentration scale can be used to to estimate the effects of passive transfer. The MISCO Digital-Dairy™ refractometers are specifically designed to help professional dairy farmers and calf ranchers to rear healthy calves. They are rugged enough to withstand the demands of farm use, yet precise enough to give laboratory-quality readings.

A measure of serum total protein concentration can be used as an indication of passive transfer. There is a close correlation between total protein concentration and IgG levels in calves 24 hours of age. The blood serum total protein test requires a sample of blood serum, not whole blood. Samples must be spun in a centrifuge, or allowed to sit undisturbed for 24 hours, to separate the serum from the whole blood before testing on the refractometer.

The versatile Brix scale can be used to measure the cut-off point separating good colostrum from bad. It can also be used to measure waste milk and calf milk replacer formulations. Nonsalable waste milk has been fed to calves for many years and represents a source of nutrition that is readily available, has few other uses, and is cheaper to feed than whole milk. However, solids content and bacteria levels are two problems associated with waste milk feeding. The DD-2 Digital-Dairy refractometer cannot read solids content directly, that would require the milk solids scale available only on Model DD-1 and DD-3, however you can determine percent solids using the Brix scale and then converting the result into percent solids using equation available from producers of calf milk replacer. Once percent solids have been determined it is easy to adjust the waste milk to desired solids levels with calf milk replacer. Another quick test for bacterial contamination and milk spoilage can be conducted using a pH meter.

Misco Digital Dairy™ DD-3 Refractometer

The DD-3 Digital-Dairy Refractometer will provide reliable estimates of colostrum quality (Brix method), blood serum protein concentration, percent solids in waste milk, and calf hydration. The MISCO Digital-Dairy™ refractometers are specifically designed to help professional dairy farmers and calf ranchers to rear healthy calves. They are rugged enough to withstand the demands of farm use, yet precise enough to give laboratory-quality readings.

Calf ranchers and dairy farmers will immediately recognize the importance of colostrum quality. Digital-Dairy DD-3 refractometer can test for colostrum quality using the Brix method. A measure of blood serum protein concentration level can be used as an indication of IgG passive transfer. Blood samples must be spun in a centrifuge, or allowed to sit undisturbed for 24 hours, to separate the plasma from the whole blood before testing on the refractometer.

Mild dehydration can occur without symptoms until it is nearly too late. Whether due to scours or other causes, calves can lose up to six percent of their body weight in fluid before there is any visual indication of dehydration. If dehydration is caught early enough, fluid therapy can reverse it, but the key is catching it early. The large-animal urine specific gravity scale, on the DD-3 Digital-Dairy refractometer, can be used quickly identify at-risk calves.