Despite the extensive research on the effects of low temperature storage of milk on the quality and yield of cheese, cheese companies continue to experience periodic problems due to milk being stored for several days on farms. Below is an abstract of some research published in 1994. It is as relevant today as then!

Abstract

Milk stored at 3°C and 7°C was used to manufacture cheese and the quality and yield of cheeses were assessed. Storage of milk at both temperatures resulted in reduced yields. Storage at 7°C for 3 or more days and 3°C for 5 days adversely affected cheese quality while storage at 3°C for 3 days resulted in an improvement in quality. There was a significant correlation between cheese quality and the psychrotrophic count and total viable count (TVC) of the raw milks. Evidence indicated that the reduction in quality was largely due to the action of extracellular lipolytic enzymes produced by psychrotrophic bacteria. It was concluded that milk for Cheddar cheese manufacture should have a TVC of < 1 x 106 cfu/ml and preferably a count of < 1 x 105 cfu/ml.

Reference

Weatherup,W. and Mullan,W.M.A. (1993) Effects of low temperature storage of milk on the quality and yield of cheese. Proceedings of IDF Seminar on Cheese Yield and Factors Affecting Its Control, Cork, Ireland, pp. 85–94.

See also https://www.dairyscience.info/index.php/cheese-yield/354-effect-of-storing-milk.html .