The Times Advocate, 2006-06-14, Page 2222
Exeter Times -Advocate
From Farm to Fridge
From the farm to your table, the
biggest challenge is to maintain dairy
products at a constant temperature
every step of the way in order to
ensure the highest quality products.
And, did you know that Canadian dairy
products are made with our very own
milk, produced according to the high-
est standards?
At the Farm
At the farm, producers make sure
their cows are in good health.
Whenever a cow becomes sick, it is
treated immediately, and if antibiotics
are required its milk is rejected until
no trace of the antibiotic remains in its
system. The growth hormone recombi-
nant bovine somatotropin (RBST),
which stimulates milk production, is
also illegal in Canada. Canadian milk
producers must conform with Health
Canada's decisions and with Canadian
regulations in order to ensure the puri-
ty of Canadian milk products.
Milking
Cows are usually milked twice a day,
although in some cases they are
milked three or four times a day. The
milk is collected with a milking
machine. It then passes through a pip -
\li\\i
ing system, the milk -line,
which conveys it to a stain-
less steel cooling tank. The
milk is kept in this tank at 1°C - 4°C, or
just above the freezing point, until it is
picked up.
The temperature of the milk must be
lowered as quickly as possible, which
is why the bulk tank has an excellent
cooling capacity and is maintained in
perfect condition.
Efficiently cooling milk
at the farm involves
lowering the tem-
perature from
38°C, (the temper-
ature of milk just
out of the cow's
teat) to 4°C in less
than 60 minutes.
Milk
ries.
He may also take a sec-
ond sample for quality
control testing in laborato-
The capacity of the regular tankers
varies between 10,000 and 35,000
litres. The pick-up routes have been
designed to avoid overlaps. The trans-
port tanker is insulated to prevent the
milk from getting hot in the summer or
freezing in the winter. The reflecting
surface of the trucks also provides pro-
tection against infrared rays and
reduces the degree of heat on the tank.
Likewise, insulated silos at the plants
keep the milk below 4°C.
Transportation
Milk is picked up at
the farm every two
days by an insulated
transport tanker. The driver is respon-
sible for determining whether a pro-
ducer's milk is fit to be loaded into the
tanker after checking its temperature,
appearance and smell. He then takes a
sample of the milk to determine the
protein, lactose and butterfat content.
at the plant,
must meet strict quality and cleanli-
ness standards. The farm, stable, milk
house and herd are subject to periodic
inspections.
Quality
ontrol
Procedures
Dairy equip-
ment, premis-
es and pro-
duction meth-
ods both at
the farm and
The quality and composition of milk
// it //
are checked when it is picked up at the
farm and when it is delivered to the
plant. Samples are taken to determine
the fat, protein and lactose content, as
well as the total bacteria and somatic
cell counts.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
If necessary, these tests can be used to
evaluate the organoleptic characteris-
tics of milk (appearance, smell and
taste), and to detect any traces of
antibiotics and antiseptics
that might have accidentally gotten
into the milk. Therefore, each tank of
milk undergoes residue testing. If the
test results do not meet quality stan-
dards, the milk is disposed of and the
producer responsible for the contami-
nation must pay all of the costs associ-
ated to excluding the milk from the
food chain.
The milk -product distribution system
is also subject to strict quality stan-
dards. Specific rules regulate the
transportation of dairy products and
their display in the dairy case. All
products are identified and stamped
with a "Best before" date. Spot checks
are done at various points of sale and
any product still in the dairy case after
the expiry date is removed.
THIS MESSAGE WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY COMMUNITY -MINDED BUSINESSES LISTED BELOW
Hensall • 262-3002
HENSALL 1-800-265-5190
Londesborough • 523-9606
DISTRICT Feed Mill •1-800-265-9000
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1-800-565-7155
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BUILDING CONTRACTORS
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10 14AR j
FEED CENTRE
JIM DOCKING, Feed Division Manager
131 Thames Rd. W. Hwy. 83, Exeter, ON.
Bus: (519) 235-1919
• Fax:1519) 235-2562 • Cell: (519) 274-4377
PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DAIRY FEED SERVICE
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2
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Call anytime for a free no -obligation estimate
(519) 870-5546 (519) 878-3834 (519) 235-2489
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43 Main Street, Zurich, Ontario, NOM 2T0
Tel: (519) 236-4381 Fax: (519) 236-7681
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640 Main St. S., Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1
(519) 235-03631-800-265-3476 Fax: (519) 235-1685
TIMES ADVOCATE
424 Main St., S
Exeter, ON
Tel: 235-1331 Fax: 235-0766