All things Dairy

[Tim G]

Out of interest what was your coliform results. How often do you have to test for them?
PM if you wish.

The FSA do the test every 3 months but turn up unannounced (this was our registration test so we knew about it). We will test ourselves in the meantime to monitor it, we have to test scc and bacto every fortnight minimum. The first test we failed (I wasn't happy about the sample as it was taken before we could cool it) the result was 539, limit is 100. Second sample we cooled and result was less than 1.

 

[sidjon]

Last day of AB today, served for a fortnight longer than usual as too hot for bull, looks like a average year for getting cows in calf and hopefully have a MT rate of 10% would be happy this year (Last year was 4%MT and 10 year average 6% MT).

 

[Sid]

The FSA do the test every 3 months but turn up unannounced (this was our registration test so we knew about it). We will test ourselves in the meantime to monitor it, we have to test scc and bacto every fortnight minimum. The first test we failed (I wasn't happy about the sample as it was taken before we could cool it) the result was 539, limit is 100. Second sample we cooled and result was less than 1.

Really!
Coliform results here are usually under 20 cfu/ml.
Over 40 is an issue.
Surprised it's over 100 unless it's a difference scale?
If I was you I would be testing a lot more often than that so you are on top of any issue before it gets out of control.
EOD or at least twice a week IMHO.

 

[Tim G]

Really!
Coliform results here are usually under 20 cfu/ml.
Over 40 is an issue.
Surprised it's over 100 unless it's a difference scale?
If I was you I would be testing a lot more often than that so you are on top of any issue before it gets out of control.
EOD or at least twice a week IMHO.

We shall be testing more often, I was quoting the minimum requirements. The trouble for us is that there are very few dairy farms in essex so samples cant be collected, we have to make our own arrangements. We are selling all the milk ourselves so no buyer to sample either so testing every other day will be very expensive.

 

[Sid]

We shall be testing more often, I was quoting the minimum requirements. The trouble for us is that there are very few dairy farms in essex so samples cant be collected, we have to make our own arrangements. We are selling all the milk ourselves so no buyer to sample either so testing every other day will be very expensive.

Can you put a cost on a reputation ?

 

[Beef farmer]

We shall be testing more often, I was quoting the minimum requirements. The trouble for us is that there are very few dairy farms in essex so samples cant be collected, we have to make our own arrangements. We are selling all the milk ourselves so no buyer to sample either so testing every other day will be very expensive.

Can you put a cost on a reputation ?

What sid is trying to say is, "congratulations and well done on having a go at securing your future away from the big processors, I'd like to do it but I'm afraid too, so I shall pick holes in your plan and make excuse why I can't do it myself"

He just beats around the Bush some times. Well done Tim. Hope all works well, will be watching with anticipation because it's a definite area we ought to be looking at.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

.

I'm sure Tim is aware of Sid'isms.

 

[honeyend]

Passed our FSA tests yesterday so milk bottled and being sold today.

Nice clear web site

 

[Sid]

What sid is trying to say is, "congratulations and well done on having a go at securing your future away from the big processors, I'd like to do it but I'm afraid too, so I shall pick holes in your plan and make excuse why I can't do it myself"

He just beats around the Bush some times. Well done Tim. Hope all works well, will be watching with anticipation because it's a definite area we ought to be looking at.

Been there and done research into on farm processing many years ago.
Too many challenges here at the time when we looked at it and was dismissed. Have had some experinece with raw milk processing with someone locally so was passing on some pointers I had gained after they had issues with the FSA.

Best way to learn is from mistakes, learning from others mistakes is even better.
But of course @Beef farmer you having been in dairying for decades know all the answers....how's the grazing system going btw?

 

[Beef farmer]

Been there and done research into on farm processing many years ago.
Too many challenges here at the time when we looked at it and was dismissed. Have had some experinece with raw milk processing with someone locally so was passing on some pointers I had gained after they had issues with the FSA.

Best way to learn is from mistakes, learning from others mistakes is even better.
But of course @Beef farmer you having been in dairying for decades know all the answers....how's the grazing system going btw?

It's going really well thank you. Cows are all dry or very close, could do with a shower, no different to the house chaps.

Not being in dairying for decades could be more of an advantage than not.

 

[Sid]

Not being in dairying for decades could be more of an advantage than not

Could be.
But do tell @Tim G and the rest of us all about your on farm milk processing experience.
How did the feasibility study go? Budgets? Details of how you were going to cope with your customers needs during the dry period and how you were going to win them back when you started calving again.

 

[Sid]

@Tim G
Great website listing all the benefits of whole raw fresh milk.

Watch out for the FSA as they have an agenda against raw milk.

Sid

 

[honeyend]

I sure you must be but are you a member, [email protected]

 

[upnortheast]

Watch out for the FSA as they have an agenda against raw milk.

Been told the only reason FSA allow raw sales is because EU rules say they have to.
Come Brexit things may change

 

[Sid]

Been told the only reason FSA allow raw sales is because EU rules say they have to.
Come Brexit things may change

They don't like organic food either!
What European countries took as a positive the FSA ignored

 

[pappuller]

Had a mate sent this over from down country, the good lord must have picked his target
Anywhere near you @Sid , @jimmer ??

 

[organicguy]

Hence the expression "pissing down"

 

[pappuller]

Hence the expression "pissing down"

I thought it was because one has big balls and one is a c83k

 

[Sid]

Had a mate sent this over from down country, the good lord must have picked his target
Anywhere near you @Sid , @jimmer ??

Well done you have worked out how to take a "selfie"

 

[jimmer]

Oi , I'll have you know I'm a cavalier .....