A milk metering apparatus having a metering chamber 7 which is repeatedly
filled and emptied many times in the course of milking an animal is provided with
a probe 15 which extends down into the metering chamber 7 and which
includes a sampling tube as well as conductivity and light absorption sensors.
Milk samples can be taken and conductivity and light absorption measurements can
be made during each filling and emptying cycle so that data from the sample analysis
and the measurements over the whole period of milking can be compared with corresponding
data from previous milkings of the same animal thereby providing valuable information
for herd management purposes.