牛奶质量研究生课程的重点是流行病学和实验室技术的应用，以解决影响奶牛场收获前牛奶质量和安全的实际问题。强调预防和治疗乳腺炎的综合方法，其最终目标是通过减少乳腺炎的发生，在乳腺炎确实发生时做出适当的治疗决策并确保牛奶符合全球乳制品市场的质量标准来改善奶牛的健康。一群充满活力的研究生从事涉及所有这些重点领域的项目。目前，关于如何预防乳腺炎的研究旨在了解暴露在奶牛居住环境中的多种微生物的影响以及了解如何最大程度地利用新的挤奶技术。抗菌素在临床乳腺炎中的适当使用是研究的重点，重点在于区分需要抗菌素治疗的病例与因炎
The graduate program in Milk Quality is focused on the application of epidemiologic and laboratory techniques to solving practical problems that influence pre-harvest milk quality and safety on dairy farms. An integrated approach to prevention and treatment of mastitis is emphasized with the ultimate goal of improving the wellbeing of dairy cows by reducing the occurrence of mastitis, making appropriate treatment decisions when mastitis does occur and ensuring that milk meets quality standards of the global dairy market. A dynamic group of graduate students work on projects that encompass all of these focus areas. Research on how to prevent mastitis is currently directed at understanding the impact of exposure to a diversity of microorganisms that are found in the cows housing environment and in understanding how to maximize the use of new milking technologies. The appropriate usage of antimicrobials for treatment of clinical mastitis is a research priority and emphasis is placed on differentiation between cases that require antimicrobial treatment versus cases that spontaneously cure as a result of the inflammatory process. Our goal is to reduce antimicrobial usage by ensuring that antimicrobials are used only on cases that will benefit and when used, are used for an appropriate duration. As part of this goal we are working to improve the understanding and differentiation between inflammation and active infection. We are currently working to improve the understanding of the clinical importance of the microbiome of inflamed mammary gland quarters. Most of the research in milk quality is applied and involves the cooperation of commercial dairy farms.