The Minnesota Easy® Culture System can be used on the farm or in the veterinary clinic to categorize the cause of mastitis quickly and easily for treatment or management decisions. There are three different culture plates available:
Minnesota Easy® Culture for clinical mastitis
Triplate - Factor®, Focus® & MacConkey media
Differentiates Staphs, Streps and Gram-negatives and aids in detection of Staph aureus suspects.
Biplate - Factor® & MacConkey media
Differentiates Gram-positives and Gram-negatives and aids in detection of Staph aureus suspects.
Minnesota Easy® Culture for selective dry cow therapy
Quadplate - 4Cast® media
Differentiates Growth and No Growth and aids in detection of Staph aureus suspects.
Consult with your veterinarian or contact us to discuss which Minnesota Easy® Culture plate is right for your dairy.
Getting started
To get started using on-farm culture, you will need to order some supplies and equipment, and someone on your dairy will need some basic training in culture procedures and interpreting results. Culture plates and other supplies can be ordered from the Lab for Udder Health. Incubators, ranging in price from $70 for a Styrofoam egg incubator to $500 for a lab incubator, can be ordered online from several suppliers.
Get started by reviewing our Minnesota Easy® Culture System II User’s Guide, which describes how to set-up your on-farm lab and begin culturing. Download the User’s Guide below, or request that a printed copy be mailed you at Order Supplies.
- Minnesota Easy® Culture System II User’s Guide (English)
- El Sistema de Cultivo Fácil de Minnesota® Guía del Usuario (Spanish)
- Minnesota Easy® 4Cast® Quick Start Guide
The Laboratory for Udder Health offers on-farm culture training opportunities throughout the year. Contact us for information on our next available course.
Notice of Weather Affected Shipments:
Throughout the seasons, especially the winter and summer, there are risks involved in ordering and receiving culture plates. During shipping, the plates may be exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures that can be damaging to their quality. During these seasons we are mindful of this while packaging and choosing the best shipping option, however, at times it can be unavoidable.
Should you receive plates that seem to be affected by the extreme temperatures (different from contaminated plates) please contact us at [email protected] with the concern. We will replace the affected plates at no cost, but we will not be able to credit the cost of shipping, this being one of the risks associated with shipping throughout the winter and summer months.
In addition, you may notice higher charges in shipping costs during these months. This is due to the varying shipping options. We do our best to choose an affordable and timely shipping option that can reduce the amount of time the plates are exposed to the extreme temperatures. We appreciate your understanding throughout these seasons. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at [email protected]