Variability and reliability of real-time milk conductivity data

The profile of milk conductivity values that were collected using an automated data acquisition system was evaluated for errant values. Conductivity values were recorded from 35 cows for three milkings. Conductivity values that were collected at 2-s intervals were extremely variable. They contained erroneously low values because of the nature of the electronic measuring system. The variability was reduced, but not eliminated, by increasing the interval to 6 s. Erroneously low values were removed by calculating a point estimate representing a mean of the 10 highest values recorded at 6-s intervals.