milking. Teats shall be treated with a sanitizing solution just prior to the time of milking and shall be dry before milking. Wet hand milking is prohibited.

PUBLIC HEALTH REASON

If milking is done elsewhere other than in a suitable place provided for this purpose, the milk may become contaminated. Cleanliness of the lactating animals is one of the most important factors affecting the bacterial count of the milk. Under usual farm conditions, lactating animals contaminate their udders by standing in polluted water or by lying down in the pasture or cowyard. Unless the udders and teats are clean and dry before milking, particles of filth or contaminated water are apt to drop or be drawn into the milk. Such contamination of the milk is particularly dangerous because manure may contain the organisms of brucellosis and tuberculosis, and polluted water may contain the organisms of typhoid fever and other intestinal diseases. Application of sanitizing solutions to the teats, followed by thorough drying just prior to the time of milking, has the advantage of giving an additional margin of safety with reference to such disease organisms as they are not removed by ordinary cleaning and it is helpful in the control of mastitis.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

This Item is deemed to be satisfied when:

1. Milking is done in a milking barn, stable or parlor.
2. Brushing is completed prior to milking.
3. Flanks, bellies, tails and udders are clipped as often as necessary to facilitate cleaning of these areas and are free from dirt. The hair on the udders shall be of such length that it is not incorporated with the teat in the inflation during milking.
4. Udders and teats of all milking animals are clean and dry before milking. Teats shall be cleaned, treated with a sanitizing solution and dry just prior to milking. Provided that the sanitizing of teats shall not be required if the udder is dry and the teats have been thoroughly cleaned (not dry wiped) and dried (manually wiped dry) prior to milking. The determination of what constitutes a dry udder and cleaned and dried teats shall be made by the Regulatory Agency.
5. NOTE: Additional alternative udder preparation methods may also be used once they have been evaluated by FDA and found acceptable.
5. Wet hand milking is prohibited.

ITEM 14r. PROTECTION FROM CONTAMINATION

Milking and milkhouse operations, equipment and facilities shall be located and conducted to prevent any contamination of milk, containers, utensils and equipment. Milk shall not be strained, poured, transferred or stored unless it is properly protected from contamination. After sanitization, all containers, utensils and equipment shall be handled in such a manner as to prevent the contamination of any milk product-contact surface.

Vehicles used to transport milk from the dairy farm to the milk plant, receiving station or transfer station shall be constructed and operated to protect their contents from sun, freezing and