smelly milk ?

I have a problem Arla have rejected our milk on the grounds that it has a sweet fruity smell to it . our cell count is 160 and bactoscan is around 10 . the cows eat swift kale /rape hybrid about 2 paces each day and add lib big bales 1st and 2nd cut rye grass they have been having some baled reseeds that was quite weedy with wild oats and other things but is nicely pickled our bf sits at around 4.7/4.8% pr3.47 also they have around 3kg of rolled barley with concentrate and mins the cows are Friesian type and look well with nice dung pats . has anyone any ideas what to do ? we already have our feed rep and vets involved . thanks.
 

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
I have a problem Arla have rejected our milk on the grounds that it has a sweet fruity smell to it . our cell count is 160 and bactoscan is around 10 . the cows eat swift kale /rape hybrid about 2 paces each day and add lib big bales 1st and 2nd cut rye grass they have been having some baled reseeds that was quite weedy with wild oats and other things but is nicely pickled our bf sits at around 4.7/4.8% pr3.47 also they have around 3kg of rolled barley with concentrate and mins the cows are Friesian type and look well with nice dung pats . has anyone any ideas what to do ? we already have our feed rep and vets involved . thanks.

Did it start when you began feeding the kale? Maybe drop it for a day or two and see what happens.
Do you think it smells different?
 
Stupid comment really, but I take it that its the tanker driver complaining or else how would they know ? open the lids on the tank for an hour before he gets there, there won't be that whoosh of smell when he opens the tank lid then, because you can bet your life the milk is fine.
 
Stupid comment really, but I take it that its the tanker driver complaining or else how would they know ? open the lids on the tank for an hour before he gets there, there won't be that whoosh of smell when he opens the tank lid then, because you can bet your life the milk is fine.
no its someone in the lad at Trevarion Dairy that's finding fault ,and now they have complained to head office about it . I am keeping them in for now to see if we can improve it :scratchhead:
 

kill

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
South West
@BELOWAVERAGE
There was a program on TV last night, the one about food factories with the bald one from masterchef (Greg Davies?) and the subject was milk, and at the Arla dairy one of the tests was smell, also taste, in addition to analysis etc.
It’s warmed for so many seconds in a microwave as that will exaggerate any taints and make spotting smells and taints easier .
Stop feeding anything you suspect to be an issue. Put them on the driest bales you have quickly .

Maybe try bringing cows in earlier from the kale and milking later to allow a greater time after feeding to milking to allow the cow a little more time to clear taint.
Avoid any wet silage that has a strong smell.
 
Last edited:

kiwi pom

Member
Location
canterbury NZ
Stupid comment really, but I take it that its the tanker driver complaining or else how would they know ? open the lids on the tank for an hour before he gets there, there won't be that whoosh of smell when he opens the tank lid then, because you can bet your life the milk is fine.

All part of the sensory test, wherever the milk is tested. Had to do a basic course on it when I was a tanker driver. I'm rubbish at it but can/could tell the difference between some grades.
The people that do it all the time are well trained and very good at grading milk.
 

Sandpit Farm

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
If you wanted a second opinion, you can ask for samples (stored at NML) to be sent for testing at your cost. There are specialised tests that look for compounds that cause taint. It is really expensive though so most people don’t do it.

If you want to investigate that, you can call NML.
 

Agrispeed

Member
Location
Cornwall
I know last year, OMSCo was having problems with silage taint, (and on milk ending up in Travarrian too) and they reckoned dry bales could be just as bad. one recommendation was to open bales several hours before using.


Mind you when grazing brassicas I've had a hell of a smell of the milk before, but it was more like cabbage than anything else :sick:
 
:banghead:so this morning I delivered a fresh sample to arla trevarrion myself as its the other side of Newquay from us . we have put the cows on just big bale rye grass (our own grass) and barley /concentrate . the milk smells better but we have got to pass arla's smell test . just as a precaution our vet has taken a bulk tank sample to send to a independent lab just to check . I don't think I can do much else ? :scratchhead:
 
:banghead:so this morning I delivered a fresh sample to arla trevarrion myself as its the other side of Newquay from us . we have put the cows on just big bale rye grass (our own grass) and barley /concentrate . the milk smells better but we have got to pass arla's smell test . just as a precaution our vet has taken a bulk tank sample to send to a independent lab just to check . I don't think I can do much else ? :scratchhead:
What a kerfuffle !!! :unsure: Hope you get it sorted :)
 
I ve heard from some of the old boys that when they fed turnips to cows they fed them straight after milking because if they fed them just before milking they tainted the milk
 

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