6 areas of the plant to inspect this summer

11 Nov 2024

It’s inevitable, temperatures are on the rise as we head into the hottest months of the year. With warmer temperatures providing an ideal environment for bacteria to grow, it’s important to do regular inspections around the plant and vat. We’ve highlighted some key areas to keep an eye on:

Milk line: Use a torch to check inside the milk line. It’s a common area to find protein and fat build up, which appear as a rainbow hue or greasy film. Mechanical faults with the flushing pulsator can result in surfaces at the top or end of milk line not being cleaned properly. Protein and fat build up could be a result of incorrect dose rates or low water temperature when putting through the wash.

Rubberwear: If you notice any damaged or perished rubberwear - including jetter rubberwear, it’s important to get these replaced. Old rubberwear can contribute to Thermoduric and Bactoscan grades.

Clusters: Open the clusters and allow them to dry to check for any protein build up. Run your finger around the inside of each liner to make sure they are clean. A greasy feel inside a liner will indicate that there is reduced water flow through the jetter associated with that set of cups.

Inside the vat: Using a torch, look from outside for the vat and inspect the interior of the bulk milk vat any rainbow hues. This is a tell-tail sign of protein build up.

Vat door: Milk can sit inside the seal of door, as well as under the door, and be a cause of bacteria growth. The vat door can be periodically removed during a vat wash to allow the area under the door to be cleaned, at the same time, remove the door seal and manually clean these.

Vat tap: Small amounts of milk can escape during pick up if the taps become loose. Milk can sit inside the threads of the tap which can quickly cause a buildup of bacteria being exposed to the outside environment.

If you have any questions about this article or need some milk quality advice, get in touch with your local FIL Area Manager.