Detection of mastitis using comparison of ORP
AssigneeGeoffrey J. Westfall
InventorsGeoffrey J. Westfall, John W. Lounsbury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Determining the quality of milk due to the presence of mastitis by monitoring the oxidation reduction potential (ORP) of the raw (unpasteurized) milk. The ORP of the milk is tested by a sensor placed into the milk soon after having been removed from the animal (e.g., cow) and prior to the milk being combined in a bulk tank with milk from other animals. The sensor can be positioned in the line carrying the milk from the cow, allowing real-time testing of the milk. Each mammary gland (e.g., quarter) is tested separately, and the ORP levels are compared. Any gland (e.g., quarter) having a level that deviates from the other levels by a predetermined amount is considered suspect for mastitis.
Claims19
A method comprising measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of raw, unpasteurized milk from at least three quarters of a single animal, and comparing the at least three ORP measurements, wherein responsive to an ORP measurement from one quarter deviating by at least 50 mV from the at least other two ORP measurements, considering that one quarter suspect of mastitis.
A system for detecting a probability of mastitis infection in a quarter, the system comprising:
- a milking apparatus comprising four short-milk tubes each having an ORP sensor in-line;
- a mechanism configured to measure the ORP of raw, unpasteurized milk from at least three quarters of a single animal, obtain the rate of change of the at least three ORP measurements, and compare the rates of change of the at least three ORP measurements, wherein responsive to the rate of change from one quarter deviating by at least 4× from the at least other two rates of change, considering that quarter suspect of mastitis;
- a line operably connecting the milking apparatus to a bulk tank;
- and
- a diverting system operably connected between the milking apparatus and the bulk tank to divert milk away from the bulk tank.
A method comprising measuring the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of raw, unpasteurized milk from at least three quarters of a single animal, obtaining the rate of change of the at least three ORP measurements, and comparing the rates of change of the at least three ORP measurements, wherein responsive to the rate of change from one quarter deviating by at least 4× from the at least other two rates of change, considering that quarter suspect of mastitis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.