A 'whole farm' approach to milk quality

In the U.S., the pressure is on to reduce somatic cell counts and meet standards that may be imposed by the European Union, Roger Beers, president and chief executive officer of A&L Laboratories, told audience members at World Dairy Expo.

To improve milk quality on-farm, Beers recommends that every dairy operation should establish a Quality Milk Team from across disciplines. The team should take a “whole farm approach” to milk quality and should include the farm’s nutritionist, milking team leader, equipment dealer, chemical supplier and lender.

This diverse team is needed because the components of a good quality milk program span many aspects of the farm operation including: genetics, nutrition, housing, cow comfort, welfare and animal handling, teat health, milking machine maintenance and performance, milking procedures and overall farm cleanliness.

Once the milk quality team has been established quality goals should be established. Metrics should include somatic cell count, preliminary incubation count (PI) and standard plate count. Other useful metrics are lab pasteurized count and coliform count (E.coli).

A&L Laboratories standards for benchmarking are:

• Somatic Cell Count : less than 200,000.
• Standard Plate Count: less than 5,000.
• Preliminary Incubation Count  less than 10,000.
• Lab Pasteurized Count  less than 10.
• Coliform Count (E.coli): less than 10.

Other steps to take include: examine current residue build-up on equipment; evaluate housing/environment; inspect and analyze cleaned in place or CIP; audit chemical product handling; evaluate teat health; analyze milking machine performance; and performing a milking audit.

Focusing on milk quality is financially beneficial when premiums are earned and production is increased through better milking techniques and it’s the right thing to do, says Beers.