Occasionally, farmers forget to turn on their milk tank for the first milking after milk collection.

This is usually discovered the morning after the milk collection.

So, what are your options if this happens to you?

You have two choices:

1. Discard

Farmers can discard the uncooled milk, wash the tank out and turn on the tank for the next milking.

2. Turn on the tank and cool the milk before milking

The second option is to turn on the tank and cool the milk before milking. Only when the milk is fully cooled, should you start milking.

Take a sample of the cooled milk and test for TBC.

This option is usually only successful when the first milking has been efficiently plate-cooled. Often the result is very high and both milkings have to be discarded.

Meanwhile, a number of tank providers can now supply a temperature monitor for milk tanks.

The sensor can be fitted to any milk tank and can tell the owner when the tank has not cooled or washed properly.

This first appeared in the Drinagh Co-op newsletter

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What to do if you forget to turn on the milk tank after collection

Here's what you should do if you forget to turn on your milk tank after collection.