Aria examines milk quality

摘要

Aria Foods' farmers are amongst the most technologically advanced in Europe, but this brings problems as well as advantages for the processor. For example, over 30% of the milk it buys from its Danish farmers is milked by robotic systems. But this milk is proving to have higher than normal levels of free fatty acids (FFA), which can lead to off-flavours in the milk. Aria Foods research platform manager Dr Jacob Holm Nielsen explained at a recent DSM Ruminant Symposium in Italy. FFA features disruption of fat globule membranes in the milk. Research so far indicates that long pipeline transport of milk immediately after milking could play a role in disruption of the fat globule membranes. Other factors identified include excessive mixing of air and milk during transportation from cow to bulk tank, but also multiple milkings per day - three times or more.