When should a sample be taken from a farm tank?

Taking a sample from a farm tank after the milk has been agitated for a minimum of five minutes is the recommended practice. This method ensures that the sample accurately reflects the quality and composition of the milk in the tank. Agitation helps to mix the milk thoroughly, allowing for an even distribution of components such as fat, protein, and other solids throughout the liquid. If the milk is not adequately agitated, sampling might yield results that are not representative of the whole tank, potentially leading to inaccuracies in testing and quality assessment.

Sampling immediately after milking stops may not be reliable as the milk can still be stratified or not well-mixed. Waiting for an hour of settling could lead to separation of cream and solids, thus producing an unrepresentative sample. Furthermore, sampling when the tank is half full does not address the need for homogeneity in the sample, as it may still be subject to separation based on the tank's dynamics.

By ensuring sufficient agitation prior to sampling, the integrity and reliability of the testing outcomes are upheld, ultimately supporting better milk quality management practices.