Laboratory Simulation of Fluctuating Temperature of Farm Bulk Tank Milk

Abstract

Temperature fluctuation of farm bulk tank milk was simulated in the laboratory. Temperature fluctuations of bulk tank milk on 8 farms were recorded for a week period. The median of the temperature rise and fall at each milking was used as the basis to simulate the fluctuating temperature in the laboratory. A 50-gal capacity aquarium kept in a walk in cooler set at 2°C with proper amounts of 37°C water added at the desired intervals was used to simulate a bulk tank. The recording of temperature fluctuations in farm bulk tanks and the simulated bulk tank in the laboratory were identical.