Milk quality on-line monitoring for control of milk utilization and herd health management comprises measuring ultrasound signal periods and milk parameters with correlation against corresponding laboratory cell count data

摘要

For each udder quarter, of each animal in the herd, measurement of an ultrasound transmission or reflection period, with essentially simultaneous analysis of the corresponding milk for chloride content, and electrical impedance at two different frequencies between 300 kHz and 1 GHz (e.g. f1 = 200 MHz, f2 = 800 MHz) is carried out. The measurements are used on-line to generate model cell counts from a statistical model derived on the basis of standard laboratory cell counts; milk containing in excess of 105 cells/ml is automatically directed to a separate storage tank.