AVOIDING MILK HYGIENE COMPROMISES AS HERD SIZES INCREASE

摘要

It's no surprise that the more cows there are to milk, the bigger the parlour tends to be to compensate. However, the larger and more complex the milking parlour, the more risk there is of bacterial contamination developing. For example, instead of 12 milk meters there could be 60 (or more) to keep an eye on. When there is a greater expanse of steel and pipework to wash, it becomes more of a challenge to maintain effective cleaning solution temperatures through to the end of the wash cycle - especially in the colder months of the year. Once a plant is contaminated, it can be a significant issue to rectify. So it is sensible to regularly ensure that wash temperatures and chemical concentrations are correct to prevent a problem arising. Larger parlours often require more pre-bulk tank cooling systems to cope with the increased milk volumes, and these can be common areas for bacteria to settle and reproduce. Regular, scheduled inspections of all parlour components will help to identify potential gremlins at the earliest opportunity.