Industries
The effect of Clean Water for Cows and Their MilkIn 1999, the European Community (EU) banned importation of US-produced milk. The EU upper limit on somatic cell count was 400,000 and 100,000 on bacteria count. The limit set by USDA in the US was 750,000 and 200,000 bacteria count. This was considered too high and import from the US was prohibited. Reduced Somatic Cell CountTests with GO2TM on a small dairy farm in Canada began using GO 2 with 150 dairy cows. Within 14 days the somatic cell count in the produced milk dropped from 250,000 to 147,000. The dairy achieved a higher price for its milk. Increased Milk ProductionIn a second dairy operation with 970 cows the volume of water consumed by the dairy cows increased within six weeks from 97,000 liters/day to 102,000 liters/day. The milk per cow increased by between 2 and 3 liters per day, without the use of bovine growth hormones (BST). Milk QualityThe Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) is a document that specifies safety standards of Grade A milk (for human consumption). Public health standards for somatic cells in raw milk are designed to protect public health, not to maximize dairy product quality and shelf life. There is continuing pressure from a variety of groups to reduce the regulatory limit for somatic cells in milk from the current 750,000 cells/ml to 400,000 cells/ml or less to increase the safety of dairy products, and to meet the standards for importation to Europe. Grade A and Grade BHistorically, two grades of milk have been identified: Grade A and Grade B. The grade depends on the milk meeting certain health (sanitary) standards. Sanitary standards, some of which might also be called "quality standards," include the somatic cell count and bacterial count and the conditions of farm facilities, including the milking parlor, milk storage tank, and water well. Milk QualityThe Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) is a document that specifies safety standards of Grade A milk (for human consumption). Public health standards for somatic cells in raw milk are designed to protect public health, not to maximize dairy product quality and shelf life. There is continuing pressure from a variety of groups to reduce the regulatory limit for somatic cells in milk from the current 750,000 cells/ml to 400,000 cells/ml or less to increase the safety of dairy products, and to meet the standards for importation to Europe. How does Grade A Milk Differ from Grade B Milk?The designation, "Grade A" denotes higher quality milk that has been produced under more sanitary conditions. Grade A dairy farms are inspected regularly to ensure that Grade A conditions are maintained in the production of milk, e.g., cleanliness of the facility and of the cows, suitability of the milking parlor and sanitary handling (and cooling) of the milk. Furthermore, specific bacteriological limits are placed on Grade A milk, including Standard Plate Counts for bacteria, maximum somatic cell counts and maximum limits on Coliform and Laboratory Pasteurized Counts.
U.S. ControlsWhenever the bacterial estimate indicates the presence of more than 500,000 bacteria per ml the following procedures are applied:
?The producer shall be notified with a warning of the excessive bacterial estimate.
?Whenever two of the last four consecutive bacterial estimates exceed 500,000 per ml the appropriate regulatory authority shall be notified and a written warning notice given to the producer. The notice shall be in effect as long as two of the last four consecutive samples exceed 500,000 per ml. Rejected MilkA plant shall reject specific milk from a producer if the milk fails to meet the requirements for appearance and odor. A plant shall not accept milk from a producer if:
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