EXPERIMENTS ON AUTOMATIC PREPARATION OF MILK SAMPLES IN CONNECTION WITH MILKING ROBOTS

A device was assembled, based on sampling units of commercial milkmete rs and a filling station for milk samples from milk collecting tankers , to provide automatic milk sampling in connection with a milking robo t. Although no major mechanical problems were left to be solved, it wa s found that the accuracy of milk sampling, required for herd control purposes, could not be reached with the equipment investigated. The bi as of fat content of samples produced by the experimental equipment wa s clearly affected by overall fat contents in milk of individual cows. It was concluded that, to improve the performance, it would be necess ary to minimize the surface area in contact with milk. (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science B.V.