Chlorinated Quaternized Hexamine and Potassium as Preservatives for Milk Samples

A new product, a chlorinated quaternized hexamine [1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7triaza-l-azoniaadamantane chloride], was evaluated as a replacement for potassium dichromate in preserving Dairy Herd Improvement milk samples.In a field study involving 383 Dairy Herd Improvement samples from 24 herds, samples preserved with dichromate tested .086%lower than those preserved with the new product.In another trial, duplicate samples preserved with the dichromate tested .102%lower than the samples preserved with the new product after 2 days; after 5 days the dichromate preservative depressed tests an additional .103%.In a laboratory study, refrigerated samples and those preserved with dichromate or the new product tested nearly the same on day 0, but dichromate preserved milk tested .099%lower at 5 days.The standard plate counts of milk preserved with either preservative were low during a 10-day laboratory test.One tablet of the new product in 28 or 56 ml of milk effectively preserved the milk for 3 wk, but the 56-ml samples had soured by 4 wk.Although it did not preserve 84-or l12-ml samples for even 1 wk, the new product was an adequate preservative for Dairy Herd Improvement milk samples.