Here you’ll find a quick overview of how the FEI testing process works, including how milk is tested, how results are scored, and when downgrades and financial impacts can apply.
Summary:
The Fat Evaluation Index (FEI) downgrade system has been developed with the objective of helping farmers deliver suitable milk to the Co-operative that can be manufactured to meet customer specifications, while at the same time retaining farmers’ ability to use PKE as an effective and affordable feed option.
Downgrade support
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.
Organise a traceback
Your milk quality results are available on the tanker docket, On-Farm app, Farm Source online, and on farmer monthly statements. If you have any questions about these results call the Farm Source Service Centre on 0800 65 65 68.
A snapshot of what to look for:
- FEI issues can build up over several days before confirmed
- You may still be supplying milk before knowing there’s a problem
- Downgrades can apply retroactively once confirmed
- One clean result stops testing — unless later results re-trigger it
What are the milk quality rating ranges for FEI?
Test results are correlated to a number scale, which is typically between 1 and 16. A downgrade milk quality rating applies to any result above the grading thresholds with results above 16.01 always incurring a reject milk quality rating.
- Downgrade levels between 1 June and 30 September
- There is only one downgrade level in place for this period.
- Where milk supplied receives a confirmation result ≥ 16.01 it is given a reject rating
- A reject rating represents a 100% financial deduction for the milk supplied that day
- Downgrade levels between 1 October and 31 May
- A Minor downgrade is a result between 11.01 - 12 (category C), incurring a 5% deduction.
- A minor downgrade is the first step in the milk quality framework for milk that doesn’t meet the Terms of Supply.
- The first two minors incurred in a month do not incur a financial deduction, but any subsequent minors will incur a 5% deduction from the Milk Price for that day.
- A Major downgrade is a result between 12.01 - 16 (category D), incurring a 20% deduction.
How is FEI sampling and testing done?
MilkTestNZ will test the sample using a Gas Chromatography method, with results being available three to five days after collection:
- Confirmatory test results will be available on the tanker docket, On-Farm app, Farm Source online, and on farmer monthly statements.
- Where multiple collections occur on a single day, a samplefrom a single consignment will be selected for retesting.
- An analysis of multiple collections indicates there is no pattern which identifies if a day or night collection has a higher or lower FEI result
- Confirmatory tests will continue daily until a sample result of less than the downgrade threshold is achieved
- Similar to the Thermoduric test, there will be a delay between sample selection and obtaining a confirmatory result
- As long as confirmatory test results are above the downgrade threshold , then confirmatory testing will continue
- Further confirmatory test results will be released even after a result below the downgrade threshold is achieved
- If confirmatory results in the system result in a downgrade, confirmatory testing will resume.