Monday, 04 March 2019 15:09

Keeping milk cooling records

Written by 

Farmers must confirm periodically that their farm’s milk cooling system is performing to the standard set by the new rules.

Farm dairy operators must keep records to confirm that milk cooling requirements are being met and to confirm the capability of milk cooling equipment. 

Milk cooling performance should ideally be monitored monthly, but as a minimum must be monitored and recorded about the time of the expected peak milk production and in February. 

Each performance check must cover at least two consecutive milkings and the records must include the temperature of milk in each bulk milk tank immediately prior to the start of milking, the times milking starts and is completed, and the temperature of the milk in the bulk milk tank at the completion of milking.

Temperature measurements and recording can be done using several options: an electronic monitoring system, a chart recorder or manual measurements.

The accuracy of the temperature measurement device must be known because the data collected is an official record. 

The dairy operator must move smartly to correct milk cooling performance if the information collected shows that milk is not being cooled according to the rules. 

In such cases the milk cooling performance checks must be repeated to confirm compliance with the rules. 

Milk not cooled according to the rules must be withheld from supply unless the milk has been assessed and confirmed as fit for purpose by the operator and/or dairy company.

More like this

Maintaining milk flows to pay the bills

As spring calving farmers around the country enter in the final stage of lactation, the incentive to keep the milk flowing is certainly there. A strong milk price and kind first half of the season has left cows in good nick and milking well.

Milk chilling partnership

Fonterra farmers can now lease next generation milk chilling technology and enjoy the many benefits that come with it.

Necessity is the mother of invention

John and Donna McCarty no longer use intermammary antibiotics for mastitis or dry cow treatment, which has saved them money and improved herd health.

Featured

Fonterra names Templeman-Jones to Mainland Group board amid divestment

As part of preparing for a potential IPO in relation to the divestment process for its global Consumer business and integrated businesses Fonterra Oceania and Sri Lanka, Fonterra has named Anne Templeman-Jones as chair-elect of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Mainland Group board.

National

Lame stories from a country vet

Everyone from experienced veterinarians and young professionals to the Wormwise programme and outstanding clinics have been recognised in this year’s…

Machinery & Products

Gongs for best field days site

Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive…

Amazone extends hoe range

With many European manufacturers releasing mechanical weeding systems to counter the backlash around the use and possible banning of agrochemicals,…

Gong for NH dealers

New Holland dealers from around Australia and New Zealand came together last month for the Dealer of the Year Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

No to pines

OPINION: Forests planted for carbon credits are permanently locking up NZ’s landscapes, and could land us with more carbon costs,…

Cut with care

OPINION: NZ farming is built on hard work, but also on innovation, a lot of which came about thanks to…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter