No crying over spilt milk

Five dairy farmers received free on-farm consultations with QCONZ (Quality Consultants New Zealand), which included analysis of cow flow and milking processes.

Ten other dairy farmers were also presented with COWaPATCHe sticker dispenser kits to help track, manage and record critical dairy herd data.

The competition was part of FMG's risk awareness campaign to prevent milk contamination. FMG's statistics show farmers make at least 900 milk contamination claims worth over $2.2m each year. Nearly half of these claims are related to milk contaminated by antibiotics and 30% were related to plant failure.

FMG's general manager of advice and insurance Conrad Wilkshire says milk contamination is a prominent issue for the dairy industry. "When things go wrong with our clients, we're here to help them out, but contaminated milk can still cost farmers a lot in lost productivity, penalties and lost export income.

"We like to take a proactive approach and help to manage clients' risks. This competition was a great way to highlight the risks involved in milk production and reward our clients with prizes that continue to help ensure the highest milk quality with minimal interruption to their dairy operations."

This is the first year FMG has run this risk awareness campaign. The competition was sent out nationwide to FMG's dairy clients and included information about the risk of milk contamination and how to avoid it. For more information and advice about milk contamination, visit http://www.fmg.co.nz/risk-prevention-tips/milk-contamination