Transportation of Fluid Milk from the Farm
Milk is transported form the farm to the receiving station or to the fluid milk processing plant in pick up tankers. Pick up tankers are insulated, stainless steel tanks, usually having a holding capacity of more than 5000gallon on a trailer handled by a motorized vehicle. No refrigeration is provided for pick up tankers, since the insulated container prevents a significant rise in the temperature of the milk during period required for transportation and delivery to the processing plant.
When receiving the milk, the operator of the tanker first tests the product, which has been stored in bulk tank, for odor and flavor and if not suitable the milk is rejected. If acceptable, the volume of the product in the bulk tank is measured with a rod. It is then agitated, after which a sample is take in glass or plastic bottle from which the butterfat content will be determined. A commingled sample is also taken to be tested for the presence of the antibiotics using the bacillus subtilis test or equivalent. If no problem, the samples from individual farmers will not be tested. If there is problem, however, each individual farm sample must be tested.
The milk is then pump from the bulk tank into the tanker through a sanitized plastic hose after which the hose is capped. The final step is to prepare a weigh ticket for the farmer and tabulate the weight, temperature and other data of the product in a record sheet.
Pick up tankers, including auxiliary equipment should be cleaned and sanitized, as are dairy farm milking and milk holding equipment, after delivery of the product to the processing plant.
Transportation of Fluid Milk from the Farm
