Experimental study of udder health and milk quality control based on conductivity measurements during milking.

摘要

A technology for automated udder-quarter-specific measurement of electrical conductivity during milking was investigated in a herd of 20 cows for 14 days. The conductivity measurement chamber was capable of diverting from the bulk milk any milk which exceeded a fixed conductivity threshold. The reliability of predictions of somatic cell count based on conductivity was compared with measurements taken before milk ejection and during milking. The conductivity difference between udder quarters based on data collected during milking was a suitable criterion for detecting subclinical udder diseases. This difference was based on the conductivity maximum of each quarter. The composition of bulk milk was affected by automated milk separation on the basisof conductivity thresholds. The separation of milk from infected udder quarters decreased the cell count and increased the lactose and protein content of the bulk milk. A significant change in the fat concentration could not be observed.