When performing a California Mastitis Test (CMT), normal milk from a quarter will exhibit what characteristic?

When performing a California Mastitis Test (CMT), normal milk from a quarter is characterized by flowing freely. This characteristic reflects the absence of significant inflammation or infection within the mammary gland. In healthy milk, the components are well-balanced, allowing for a smooth and consistent viscosity. Free-flowing milk indicates that the somatic cell count is within normal ranges, which is essential for maintaining a high standard of milk quality.

In contrast, thick viscosity can suggest the presence of additional somatic cells or bacterial activity, leading to a more gel-like texture. Likewise, the appearance of clots or changes in color would indicate potential mastitis or other milk quality issues, as these changes signal inflammation or contamination. Therefore, a normal, healthy sample should flow freely, making this the correct characteristic associated with normal milk in the context of the CMT.