This is verified by frequent milk quality testing and robust auditing processes, says Farm Source Regional Food Safety and Assurance Manager Grant Rudman.
"Milk quality, and all that leads to it, is a key focus for our farmers, and we work hard to support them with that," says Grant.
Here are our top tips for protecting your milk quality while getting through the end of summer and heading into autumn.
It's time for spraying so secure your paddocks
Most agrichemicals have withholding periods post being applied to pasture or crops, which cows must not graze before this withhold has expired. A worst-case scenario is cows get into the wrong paddock following spraying and end up having to enter a withholding period.
This is a significant risk if agrichemical compound ends up in the supply chain, as it can affect thousands of tonnes of products. To avoid this, make sure sprayed paddocks are clearly marked for all staff to see clearly.
"MPI requires any animals thought to be affected by sprayed paddocks or crops to enter a withholding period. This can create a significant risk to your business," says Grant.
- Ensure the clear labelling of sprayed paddocks - NuFarm have bright red and white tag-style signs available complimentary for you - ask at your local store.
- Make sure you store your agrichemicals safely and away from the farm dairy - non-approved chemicals such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides must not be stored within 20m of the dairy and must not be stored with chemicals approved for use in the farm dairy.
- Empty agrichemical containers must not be reused for anything in the farm dairy
- In the event that cows graze a sprayed-out paddock under a milk withholding period, or you have concerns there is a food safety issue due to agrichemicals, add a lock to your vat and contact Fonterra on 0800 65 65 68 to complete a risk assessment.
Reduce the risk of thermoduric downgrades
Thermoduric bacteria are heat resistant bacteria that can survive pasteurisation. As they start to grow, they can reduce the shelf life and impact the flavour of a product. Early intervention is the best tool for prevention of thermoduric downgrades.
Keep an eye out for perished rubberware, or protein build up within the interior of the milk silo due to ineffective hot washes.
"Key areas to check for protein include the milk line and receiving can of your milking plant. Within the vat check the inlet and outlet, everywhere around the manhole door, plus the non-return valve and the agitator paddle," Grant says.
Thermoduric downgrades tend to increase throughout the warmer months as thermoduric bacteria like warm temperatures.
Keep an eye on your Fat Evaluation Index
The Fat Evaluation Index (FEI) indicates the suitability of milk fat for processing and to meet customer requirements. The FEI downgrade system was developed to help farmers deliver milk to the Co-operative that can be manufactured to meet customer specifications.
The FEI downgrade system includes two different tests. The first is a rapid, low-cost screen that provides a daily result reported as a 6-day average. The second is a precise, more expensive confirmatory test approved for applying downgrades. Both the screen and the confirmatory tests are managed by MilkTestNZ. Subsequently, a downgrade milk quality will apply for any confirmed rating over 9.01.
Correct feed ratios are essential here, says Grant, who recommends talking to your TSR or feed representative for more information on creating a strategic feeding plan to ensure your FEI results are where you want them to be, and in the meantime:
- Watch out for variation in fat content of different PKE assignments
- Feed low FEI feeds for lactating cows
- Dry-off poor producing cows
- Check the ratio of PKE to total intake.
Protecting your milk quality is just good business. For more information, contact your Farm Source TSR or pop into you local store.