Abstract: The invention provides novel feedstuffs for ruminants comprising an edible water insoluble salt of an edible higher fatty acid, free fat, excess of the salt-forming metal, and optionally a further nutritional material, expecially a proteinaceous feedstuff such as soya bean meal. Such feedstuffs may be produced by forming a mixture of a basic oxide such as calcium oxide, a mixture of fatty acid and triglycerides, water and optionally the further nutritional material, and allowing the oxide to react with the acid to form the water-insoluble salt. The hot reacting mixture is spread out so that water evaporates spontaneously and a friable product is obtained. The process is operated continuously.

Abstract: A machine for cutting a generally oblong, compressed bale of hay or forage into a plurality of elongated sub-sections, is disclosed. The machine has an inlet for moving compressed bales into an adjoining sawing section and through a passageway having a first and second series of saws arranged transversely for progressively cutting the bale at a series of vertical and horizontal planes to form the hay sub-sections. The cut sub-sections are caused to fall on a conveyor belt which dispenses them from the end of an outlet chute. The sawing of the bale minimizes leaf and fibre damage, and the cut subsections of hay readily break apart to make them easily consumable by livestock.

Abstract: System for forming a laminate consisting of dough and fat, comprising in a single reducing station first and second reducing means which are each suitable for receiving a first and second ingoing layer consisting of dough and fat and for delivering a first and second outgoing layer, less thick than the respective ingoing layers, a laminating station which is suitable for receiving the first outgoing layer, and for partially placing on each other of parts of the first outgoing layer for forming and delivering the second outgoing layer, with a displacement direction opposite to the first outgoing layer, and comprising first to fourth conveyor means, being arranged essentially in one vertical plane and being suitable for conveying the layers thereon.

Abstract: A system and corresponding process for cleaning sugarbeet pulp comprising: (a) a tank wherein a sufficient amount of water is added to the pulp to form a first slurry containing about 0.1 to 4 wt-% pulp; (b) a screening apparatus for separating the first slurry into a top portion containing substantially all of the pulp and a bottom portion containing a major proportion of the free foreign material; (c) a mill for reducing the particle size and loosening of adherent foreign material from the pulp; (d) a tank for adding a sufficient amount of water to the top portion to form a second slurry containing about 0.1 to 4 wt-% pulp; (e) a screening apparatus for separating the second slurry into a upper portion containing substantially all of the pulp and a minor proportion of the loosened foreign material and a lower portion containing a major proportion of the loosened foreign material; (f) a tank for adding a sufficient amount of water to the upper portion to form a third slurry containing about 0.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of perforated pita bread is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cylindrical roller having disposed on the surface thereof substantially circular blades with a sawtooth blade disposed along the diameter of each circular blade. The blades cut from a flattened sheet of pita dough traveling along the conveyor belt a plurality of perforated pita loaves having perforations therein for convenient tearing, which perforated pita loaves do not rupture during the baking process.

Abstract: Chocolate is refined by so-called conching. This is carried out in a device whereby the mass is spread out in a thin film and exposed to the air. Among other things, the viscosity is reduced as a result. By subjecting the chocolate mass directly prior to the spreading in a thin film to high shear stresses, a further reduction in viscosity takes place. The invention provides a device wherein, directly preceding the spreading out in a film, the mass is subjected to high shear stresses by means of arranging radially directed pins on a drive shaft.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for making hard, dense, vitreous molasses-based animal feed supplement masses, the method comprising heating a molasses composition to a temperature within the range of about 240.degree. F. to about 285.degree. F. to remove all of the water content of the molasses that is necessary to form the desired vitreous masses. A portion of the heating process may be accompanied by an injection of ambient air into the molasses composition being heated. Immediately after heating, the molasses composition is cooled, agitated and de-aerated by directing the molasses composition through a cooler and de-aerator including a conduit in which is positioned an offset beater shaft assembly adapted to separate portions of the composition from the remainder thereof while directing cooling air through the conduit about said portions.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing biological raw material into a creamy-like substance. The apparatus includes a collector container with a material supply and a high pressure unit with an outlet conduit for processed material. The apparatus further includes a de-aeration container; a discharge conduit for supplying raw material from the collector container to the de-aeration container; a feeding conduit for feeding the de-aerated raw material to the high pressure unit; a return conduit for guiding excess raw material in the de-aeration container back to the collector container; and a de-aeration device for de-aerating raw material in the de-aeration container. An arrangement is provided to displace raw material to the various parts.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a food product from a tray having apertures defining a supporting lattice to which the food product is adhered. A conveyor belt carries the tray in an inverted position with the food product on the bottom and engaging the upper surface of the belt. The undersurface of the belt is slidably supported by a first row of fixed, transversely spaced apart supports. A first row of roller bands with radially directed fingers is located above the belt with the roller bands midway between the supports. The fingers project through the tray apertures and move the product away from the tray and toward the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt sags between the supports, providing room for the product to move for separation from the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of perforated pita bread is disclosed. The apparatus includes a cylindrical roller having disposed on the surface thereof substantially circular blades with a sawtooth blade disposed along the diameter of each circular blade. The blades cut from a flattened sheet of pita dough traveling along the conveyor belt a plurality of perforated pita loaves having perforations therein for convenient tearing, which perforated pita loaves do not rupture during the baking process.

Abstract: A toroid forming machine has a plurality of individual laterally flexible dough forming members mounted upon a conveyor chain to revolve about spaced sprockets, the forming members being drawn through a stationary sleeve formed by opposing one-half sleeve members from a substantially flat initial configuration to a substantially closed cylindrical configuration at an exit end of the sleeve. A stationary mandrel is provided centrally of the sleeve to allow molding of dough strips between the forming members and mandrel into toroid configuration suitable for making bagels. End portions of the mandrel and sleeve are removable and have an expanding configuration to allow for varying the size of toroids exiting the sleeve. The forming members and the associated conveyor chain are easily removed for replacement by different size members as are the mandrel and sleeve members.

Abstract: A system for treating oilseeds prior to solvent extraction in which the oilseeds are treated in a microwave dryer to raise their temperature to 140.degree. F., passed hot through two-high rolls to crack the hulls and beans, the hulls are removed in an air sorter while at 140.degree. F., and while still heated, the beans are sent to a flaking roll. The stream from the process to the solvent extractor has less than 5% fines.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for controlling the ripening of fresh fruit, a stack of fruit boxes is spiral wound with a transparent synthetic resin strip around the four vertically oriented faces of the box stack. The boxes within the stack have openings on their upper and lower faces which register with corresponding openings in vertically adjacent boxes to permit a vertical movement of an air-ethylene mixture through the stack. A plastic cap or lid is disposed on top of the stack of boxes and is provided with a blower for drawing air vertically through the stack from the bottom thereof. An air-conditioning unit and an ethylene containing bottle may be disposed in a unit on which a pallet supporting the stack of boxes rests. Effluent air or a mixture of air and ethylene is fed back to the air-conditioning unit via a conduit on the outside of the wrapped stack of boxes.

Abstract: An apparatus for irradiating a foodstuff with ultraviolet energy comprising a transport unit for receiving foodstuff at a first location and for transporting the foodstuff in a relatively spread out condition along a path to a second location. The foodstuff passes through a substantially enclosed housing wherein the foodstuff is exposed to a flux of ultraviolet radiation from a plurality of germicidal lamps. The transport unit includes a shaker table within the housing sloping downwardly from the entrance opening of the housing for agitating the foodstuff so that the foodstuff turns over and exposes its entire surface to the flux of radiation as it travels through the housing.

Abstract: A chlorine generator for preserving fruits and vegetables includes a first layer of paper, a second layer of paper and a third layer of paper. The first and second layers of paper are made of a laja type paper having a weight of about 30 to 70 gr/m.sup.2. One surface of the first layer is coated with a plastic permeable film having a weight of about 5 to 25 gr/m.sup.2. Both surfaces of the second layer are coated with a plastic permeable film having a weight of about 5 to 25 gr/m.sup.2. The third layer is made of a kraft type paper weight about 40 to 80 gr/m.sup.2. The three layers are joined together by a thermal seal. Pockets are defined by the layers and the seals. Calcium hypochlorite is placed in the pockets. The kraft paper layer can be impregnated with a mixture including about 1 part calcium hypochlorite anhydrous, about 4 parts calcium sulphate, about 8 parts toluene and about 2 parts acrylic lacquer.

Abstract: The two feed rolls of a roll refiner comprising at least four rolls for processing viscous materials, such as chocolate masses, are regulated with respect to their rotational speeds by means of a suitable regulating system. The two feed rolls rotate in a fixed speed ratio to each other at speeds determined by the prevailing operating conditions. The particle size and/or the output quantity of the processed material may be held constant by this regulation.

Abstract: A utility game bag system including a game bag that can be a single layer or constructed in multiple layers to expose, alternatively, sun reflective or sun absorbing surfaces, and may include a vent therewith, and hanger system therefore for suspending the game bag from a tree, or the like, and for supporting an animal carcass, or a rack holding sections of an animal carcass therein, the system including a blower arranged to pass an air flow that may be water saturated or have smoke entrained therein into the game bag. The blower including a filter mat and housing and an arrangement to pass, as required, a flow of water thereto, wetting the filter mat wherethrough the blower pulls an air flow, with, alternatively, the blower inlet arranged for connection to a smoke generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a chocolate paste in which the various ingredients comprising at least cocoa and powdered sugar are subject to operations of grinding to a predetermined degree of particle size, of fluidification by dispersion of the particles of sugar and of cocoa into a continuous fatty phase and of degasification for the removal of water and undesirable volatile compounds. At least part of the treatment is carried out in a conveyor with several screws and an arrangement for regulating the temperature of the entrained material. After preliminary grinding of the ingredients to obtain a refined paste having the desired degree of particle size in the screw conveyor, dry-conching of the refined paste is carried out and then the liquefaction of the paste is obtained by the incorporation of additives in accordance with the receipe.

Abstract: A method of making a morsel-containing, baked food product that exhibits a high degree of morsel visibility on a preselected surface, which in the case of a ready-to-serve cookie is its top surface. The method includes the steps of forming a continuously-moving dough rope containing randomly-distributed morsels, followed by penetrating the continuously-moving dough rope with means that engage and transversely move a portion of the randomly-distributed morsels to a pre-selected, peripheral area of the dough rope that corresponds to the baked product's pre-selected surface where high morsel visibility is ultimately desired. Thereafter, the continuously-moving dough rope is cut into a series of individual dough preforms that are either immediately baked into the final baked product as in the case of a ready-to-serve cookie, or wrapped in a suitable wrapper and subsequently baked or further sliced and then baked by a consumer at home.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming longitudinally extending bores in food products includes a hollow circular coring knife having a cutting edge formed at a terminal end thereof. Another end of the knife is connected to a connection member rotatively carried by a bearing and which has a passageway formed along the length thereof in communication with the hollow portion of the circular knife. The connection member is rotatively driven by drive means and sealingly connected, at the passageway, to a vacuum source. A retainer structure carries two types of food products, one a relatively larger product in which a larger bore is formed by a knife. The retainer structure is slidable with respect to the knife so that the knife is inserted a predetermined extent of the length of the food product, normally a bun. A second food product, normally a wiener, is also placeable within the retainer structure and bored but at a smaller diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for a continuous compressing operation involving receiving pliable articles, compressing them along a single axis, and releasing them once compresssed. The apparatus and method each involve the use of a pair of disks arranged in a V-shaped configuration, with their opposing surfaces contoured to form opposing recesses which, together with a flexible barrier spanning the space between the disks, define a pocket opening toward the rims of the disks for receiving the article and retaining it during compression. The disks are rotated while maintaining the V shape, thereby causing the pocket and hence the retained article to become compressed. Once the narrowest point of the V is passed, the compressed article is released by gravitational force.

Abstract: A lateral end upright for the feeding roll pair in chocolate refining machines is formed by two half-uprights in mutual abutment relationship and individually mounted to one of the feeding rolls. The abutment sides of the half-uprights have a thickness dimension which is selected to ensure continuity thereof even with the feeding roll axles tilted to their full oscillated positions. A flexible insert may be interposed to the upright halves.Offsetting play due to wear can be taken up, as can differences in the working lengths of the feeding rolls.

Abstract: A system for controlling the pressure applied on the roll bearings of chocolate refining machines comprises, in addition to a linked multi-pressure control circuit, an additional circuit for applying linked single-pressure control, a selector valve enabling switching of one or the other of the operating modes.The dual-function system imparts refining machines with universal operation capabilities.

Abstract: A pair of endless belts define a downwardly extending path therebetween which progressively reduces in width from the top to the bottom, so that a material of a foodstuff is compressed while being fed downwardly by the belts through the path. A horizontal conveyor belt lies below the path and is indexed to transfer a predetermined cut length of the material to a shaping station where the material is pushed up into a shaped cavity of a flexible cup member. The flexible cup member is embraced by presser members to shape the material under a preselected adjustable pressure. The resulting block of material attains hardness and shape which would be provided by hand-shaping. Regardless of the hardness of the material in the downward path between the belts, the material can always be cut by each predetermined amount by adjusting the width of the path and, therefore, the degree of compression of the material.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning, aerating and fumigating grain comprises chutes having screens therein over which the grain is passed. Conduits interconnect the chutes with a blower mechanism so that the grain to be cleaned is subjected to a vacuum which causes the fine debris, trash and the like to be passed through the screen. The fine debris is entrained in a stream of air and directed exteriorly of the grain storage structure. The conduits connected to the blower assembly may be detached from the grain cleaning chutes and connected to tubes inserted into the grain to permit heated gases and moisture to be removed from the stored grain. An air entrained fumigant may also be directed through the tubes into the grain for controlling insects and the like.

Abstract: Continuous process apparatus and method for treating food products with ozone gas, primarily for sterilization. The food products, which may be delicate vegetable products such as potato chips, dehydrated onions and other dehydrated vegetables, are continuously conveyed through a treatment zone filled with ozone, and oxygen that is a by-product of the ozone treatment, and also air unavoidably entering the treatment zone with the food products, are gravity separated from the ozone in a separation zone located above the treatment zone.

Abstract: A pair of endless belts define a downwardly extending path therebetween which progressively reduces in width from the top to the bottom, so that a material of a foodstuff is compressed while being fed downwardly by the belts through the path. A horizontal conveyor belt lies below the path and is indexed to transfer a predetermined cut length of the material to a shaping station where the material is pushed up into a shaped cavity of a flexible cup member. The flexible cup member is embraced by presser members to shape the material under a preselected adjustable pressure. The resulting block of material attains hardness and shape which would be provided by hand-shaping. Regardless of the hardness of the material in the downward path between the belts, the material can always be cut by each predetermined amount by adjusting the width of the path and, therefore, the degree of compression of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting, guiding and temperature-treating a continuously moving rope of puff extruded farinaceous food material of generally C-shaped cross-section. The moving rope is supported and cooled from below by a stream of air exiting from openings in the upper edge of a former bar, which is positioned below the rope and extends into the concave portion of the cross-section. Air is directed downwardly onto the top and sides of the moving rope from a plenum chamber and nozzle assembly positioned above the moving rope.

Abstract: Apparatus for conditioning wafers, such as wafer sheets, flat wafers, low hollow wafers and the like comprises an insulated conditioning chamber, which is closed except for a feed opening and a discharge opening, a revolving conveyor, which extends in the conditioning chamber adjacent to the feed opening and the discharge opening and is provided with successive compartments for receiving wafers, and air-guiding passages, which extend along the path of the compartments and are connected to an air-conditioning plant, which is preferably disposed outside the conditioning chamber. The clearance between the supporting elements which have been moved or swung toward each other is substantially one to 5 times, preferably 1.1 to two times, the wall thickness of a flat wafer or once to twice the height of a low hollow wafer. At least one of the two supporting elements rises above the received wafer at least with a projecting portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container for activation of microbiophysical properties of substances, especially of food-stuffs. The container is a spatial form in a shape of a cylinder 1 with an open flank to which along the whole height at both sides two plates 2 earthed with conductors are fixed at a right angle, and opposite the open part of the cylinder 1 a movable plate 4 of the height of the cylinder 1 is situated, earthed with a conductor 5, whereby the whole form is founded on a plate 6 and closed with a cover.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fish food or bait and a method and apparatus for manufacturing same. The food or bait includes an edible porous member saturated with a fish attractant or nutrient. The food or bait may include a cavity filled with an edible solid and it may be covered with an edible solid. The article may further be covered with a sealant.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a generally spherical laminate dough preform that has a first inner dough substantially uniformly encapsulated by one or more outer doughs. If the preform contains morsels such as flavored chips, the appparatus will distribute and optimize the visibility of the morsels in the final baked product.

Abstract: A product such as ground meat is efficiently chilled in a blender device having an open top. Liquid carbon dioxide is introduced into the blender at a location below the surface of the product to thereby form solid and gaseous CO.sub.2. Mixing elements such as a ribbon screw or the like are operated to pass the product in a countercurrent relation to the carbon dioxide introduced into the blender thereby chilling the product and causing the resulting CO.sub.2 gas to rise along one wall of the blender. Deflector means are provided along such wall to direct the rising vapor toward an exhaust plenum located above the open top of the blender.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous manufacture of a mixed fodder comprises a stationary drum having an infeed opening for straw bales at one end of the peripheral drum wall and an outlet for finished fodder mix at the opposite end. Centrally of the drum there rotates a shaft which carries chopping means in the region of the infeed opening and mixing means in a subsequent longitudinal section. For introducing solid additives there are provided one or more openigns at the first mentioned end of the drum. A liquid binding agent can be supplied through the hollow shaft and be sprayed through nozzles secured in the section of the shaft which carries the mixing means. Further liquid constituents may, if desired, be supplied from the opposite shaft end and be sprayed through other nozzles in the shaft. The apparatus is very compact because all constituents are introduced into the drum and processed and mixed therein. It has a low power consumption and it delivers a very homogeneous mixture.

Abstract: A meat massage machine is disclosed comprising a closable container having two shafts extending therethrough with a plurality of smooth, closely spaced paddles thereon. The shafts are individually powered by hydraulic motors. A vacuum pump or the like is in communication with said container. Discharge ports are located in the container adjacent one end of each shaft.The method comprises placing ham portions or the like in said container, rotating said shafts in opposite directions so that ham portions between the shafts are moved upwardly therebetween by said paddles while a vacuum is drawn continuously on said container; rotating said shafts at 9-18 rpm's for 10-90 minutes whereby the massaged ham will have protein extruded therefrom for purposes of subsequently adhering the ham portions together, and releasing the vacuum and reversing the direction of rotation of said shafts to discharge said ham portions through the discharge ports.

Abstract: Particulate material to be aromatized is fed to the circumferentially grooved surface of a rotating wheel which carries said material from the in-feed to the discharge stage of its rotation during which travel the material is injected with a predetermined quantity of an aroma-enriched carrier liquid.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a fruit juice by the enzymatic reaction of a whole fruit including the rind, a fruit rind, a squeeze residue or a frozen product thereof as a raw material, the improvement wherein the enzymatic reaction is carried out while finely dividing the raw material.

Abstract: A process for producing a fruit preparation from a natural fruit juice, the process comprises removing water from the juice by flowing the juice on a heated, reciprocable, inclinable surface to reduce the water content to 10 to 25% by volume. A crystalline modifying agent is then added to the product. The modifying agent and the product are then blended while heating them. The heating and blending is continued until the water content of the product is in the range of 1 to 15% by volume. An apparatus for producing the preparation is described. The apparatus has a concentrator pivotably mounted at about its center. An end of the vessel can be raised and lowered to reciprocate the vessel about the pivotable mount. The vessel is heated and has a closable outlet at each end. Extractors for vapor produced from the fruit juice heated in the first vessel are provided and blender means to blend the material produced on the concentrator with an added material.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating materials containing cocoa butter with regard to air entrained therein in which rotating blades beat and distribute the air bubbles in the material into smaller sizes and evenly dispersed arrangement.

Abstract: Mixing or homogenizing an avian egg by piercing the egg at its smaller end with a relatively small upwardly pointing needle while holding the egg in the hand, said needle having an offset portion, and then rapidly rotating the needle so that said offset portion is inside the egg and acts as a beater.

Abstract: An apparatus for washing cerals with a rotar powered by a jet water by collecting a certain amount of cereals in the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of animal feedstuff prior to pelletizing thereof comprising a conditioning vessel and at least one sterilization vessel, each of which is in the form of a cylindrical drum, means for feeding the material to be treated through the conditioning vessel where steam or other a additive can be applied, means for passing material from the conditioning vessel to the sterilization vessel or vessels and means for discharging material from the sterilization vessel or vessels after a required residence time therein, said conditioning vessel and said sterilization vessel or vessels being arranged in spaced apart relationship and connected by walls to form an integral structure having a single chamber between said vessels through which a heating medium may be passed, thus to heat the contents of both the conditioning vessel and the or each sterilization vessel.

Abstract: A machine for making an emulsified product from a mixture of a gas and a liquid milk product capable of forming a foam which comprises a fixed whipping barrel, having a substantially labyrinth passage defined therein, and to which the liquid milk product, after having sucked by and mixed with the gas in a suction pump, is supplied under pressure. The liquid milk product mixed with air is emulsified as it flows through the labyrinth passage in the fixed whipping barrel and then supplied towards a rotary whipping barrel having therein a stirring rod rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The emulsified milk product is, during its passage through the rotary whipping barrel, stirred by the rotary stirring rod so that it can be further emulsified to provide a highly homogenized emulsion which is subsequently discharged from a dispenser.

Abstract: An improved egg handling device is disclosed in which a number of egg lifting vacuum cups, mounted on a convenient support, are used both to transfer eggs and to punch the egg shells. The egg piercing system is incorporated with the transfer cups to provide for a simultaneous piercing and lifting of the eggs. A piercing needle is mounted within each vacuum cup in a position to pierce or puncture each egg shell while it is held within the cup by the vacuum lifting force.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for making a feed stuff for cattles, pigs, or poultry by subjecting a mixture of bagasse, Candida utilis or a variety of yeast fungus, var major, and Tichoderma viride to a fermentation treatment, mixing a fermentation product with the crushed and dried top portion of sugar canes, having added thereto cereals, and rolling and drying a resultant mixture into a desired shape.

Abstract: Food products, for example, hamburger patties, are rapidly cooked with reduced weight losses. A cooking appliance is provided having a plurality of parallely spaced heat transfer fins from which project an array of cooking grills on which the hamburger patty is impaled. The appliance is adapted to be passed through a cooking environment so that heat is transferred through the fins and projecting grills to the interior of the hamburger patty. In this way cooking is accomplished in a relatively short period of time, and also the amount of fat and meat juices that are melted or broiled away is minimized. A device with a handle is provided for releasably engaging the cooking appliance so that the appliance can be conveniently moved even if hot. The device is provided with an ejection system for discharging the hamburger patty from the appliance.

Abstract: Kernel corn is dried by piercing the pericarp prior to drying. Apparatus for doing this comprises means to feed the kernels in uniformly oriented relation to a needle cylinder with a stripping comb. The kernels are resiliently pressed against the needle cylinder by a resilient surface which may be either on a cylinder or an endless belt. Orientation of the kernels may be effected either between that endless belt and another endless belt, or else in a vibrating chute.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for puncturing or perforating vegetable segments wherein the perforating step is integrally connected with the cutting and slicing of the segments prior to blanching, dehydrating and/or rehydrating whereby the time of processing of vegetable segments can be quite substantially reduced.

Abstract: A dough proofing apparatus is for use in association with a dough forming apparatus having a dough piece receiving means which receives preformed dough pieces from a dough dividing machine and directs them toward a toroid forming apparatus wherein the proofing apparatus includes dough conveyance means for receiving and conveying dough pieces in a proofing mode of travel through a closed loop path of travel of the conveyor belt between generally adjacent dough entry and dough exit locations on the toroid forming apparatus. The conveyance belt is passed over vertically spaced pulleys with dough pieces retained thereon by adjacent dough support means on the conveyance belt which cooperate to form open-ended cage-like dough retaining receptacles for dough pieces as they travel on the conveyance means over and about the vertically spaced pulleys.

Abstract: An improvement in the method and apparatus for obtaining the specific fat content of milk wherein whole milk and skimmed milk are mixed together as they flow, and the amount of skimmed milk is added according to the previously determined fat content of the whole milk, the fluid quantities of the whole milk and skimmed milk being continuously measured. The method and apparatus are improved by continuously taking samples of the whole milk and continuously determining their fat content, and in between taking the samples and the admixture of the skimmed milk while the whole milk is retained in its supply line for the period of time between the taking and/or evaluation of the particular sample and the controlling of the skimmed milk admixture.