Rewarding farmers who embrace sustainability
Winners of DairyNZ’s Sustainability and Stewardship awards in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have their eyes firmly fixed on progressing a positive future for New Zealand dairy.
In a dairy shed, milk quality depends in part on the cleanliness of the bulk milk tank says DairyNZ.
Using a tank cleaning system tailored to the bulk milk tank size, configuration and other available resources (water volume and quality) will minimise the need to climb inside the tank and scrub the surfaces by hand.
Automation of bulk milk tank cleaning can enable the tank to be cleaned immediately after emptying, reducing the risk of milk residues settling on the tank surfaces, and so limiting the opportunity for bacterial growth.
The benefits of selecting the right cleaning system include:
Different methods of cleaning the bulk milk tank require varying labour inputs and offer varying scope for automation.
Manual cleaning involves cleaning of the bulk milk tank using buckets and brushes. It is limited to small lidded tanks because good access to all internal surfaces is needed.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Manual cleaning in place (CIP) involves the fitting of a spray ball or similar device at the top of a bulk milk tank.
The spray ball distributes cleaning solutions to all internal surfaces. Pump sizes, spray ball design and water volumes need to be matched to provide good cleaning.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Limited contact time of detergents if the water is not recirculated.
Optionally, automatic cleaning in place (CIP) has distinct advantages, and some disadvantages.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Do your homework
South Waikato farm manager Ben Purua’s amazing transformation from gang life to milking cows was rewarded with the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Farmer award last night.
Bankers have been making record profits in the last few years, but those aren’t the only records they’ve been breaking, says Federated Farmers vice president Richard McIntyre.
The 2023-24 season has been a roller coaster ride for Waikato dairy farmers, according to Federated Farmers dairy section chair, Mathew Zonderop.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) director general Ray Smith says job cuts announced this morning will not impact the way the Ministry is organised or merge business units.
Scales Corporation is acquiring a number of orchard assets from Bostock Group.
Family and solidarity shone through at the 75 years of Ferdon sale in Otorohanga last month.
OPINION: Scientists claim to have found a new way to make a substitute for cow's milk that could have a…
OPINION: The Irish have come up with a novel way to measure cow belching, which is said to account for…