Online evaluation of milk quality according to coagulation properties for its optimal distribution for industrial applications

Abstract

The potential for application of online devices for providing real-time analysis of milk-clotting parameters during milking was studied. The experiment tested established relationships between glandular-level bacterial infection and milk-clotting parameters as evaluated by visible or near-infrared spectroscopy. The parameters yielded by the AfiLab (S.A.E. Afikim, Afikim, Israel) online device were shown to be applicable to derivation of real-time estimations of milk-clotting parameters on the individual cow level. The ability of the AfiLab to perform this task was validated online and statistically by calibration against laboratory testing procedures.