United States raw milk debate temperatures may be used by different processors, pasteurization is most commonly achieved with heating to 161 degrees Fahrenheit (71.7 degrees Celsius) for 15 seconds. Milk is tested following pasteurization to confirm that bacteria have been killed to an acceptable level. Pasteurization kills pathogenic bacteria which occasionally may be present in milk, including those causing tuberculosis ("Mycobacterium bovis"), listeriosis ("Listeria monocytogenes"), Q fever ("Coxiella burnetii"), brucellosis ("Brucella"), campylobacteriosis ("Campylobacter"), salmonellosis ("Salmonella"), and several other foodborne illnesses (e.g., ). Pasteurization may not kill some resistant bacteria, which can eventually cause souring and spoilage of fresh milk. UHT pasteurization (Ultra High Temperature) is
Brucellosis a "calfhood" vaccination. Most cattle receive a tattoo in one of their ears, serving as proof of their vaccination status. This tattoo also includes the last digit of the year they were born. The first state–federal cooperative efforts towards eradication of brucellosis caused by "Brucella abortus" in the U.S. began in 1934. Brucellosis was originally imported to North America with non-native domestic cattle ("Bos taurus"), which transmitted the disease to wild bison ("Bison bison") and elk ("Cervus canadensis"). No records exist of brucellosis in ungulates native to America until the early 19th century. Antibiotics such as tetracyclines, rifampin, and the