Friday, March 29, 2024

Milk testing celebrates 30 years

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Milk testing has been part of the dairy industry in New Zealand for 30 years.
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Milk Test NZ, successor to the original testing company South Auckland Independent Testing Laboratory, tests more than 25,000 samples of milk a day at the peak of the season, which is 98% of the raw milk samples taken at the country’s dairy farms.

Chilled samples are couriered by air and road from across NZ to the laboratory in Hamilton, and the test results are reported back to the companies the same day.

Milk Test NZ’s chief executive Margaret Malloch said farmers and dairy companies relied on accurate results.

“Our systems are calibrated and referenced to the very highest international laboratory standards.

“That gives our dairy companies, farmers and their consultants the peace of mind that our testing provides quick and accurate results,” Malloch said.

The first test, composition, measures the exact percentages of fat and protein in the milk. These percentages determine how much the farmer is paid for their milk.

The second set of tests are concerned with the quality of the milk. If the tests identify any contaminants in the milk, the farmer may incur financial penalties.

Dairy companies make the results available to their individual farmer suppliers.

Malloch said the rise in boutique cheeses and other dairy products meant cow milk was not the only milk tested.

“We not only test most of the milk from the country’s dairy farmers but also from farmers who milk dairy goats, sheep and even buffalo.”

Malloch was proud of the way the laboratory team operated.

“Like the rest of the industry we have the pressure of the 25,000 samples arriving at our doorstep every day and the responsibility of accurately testing and measuring those samples before the next lot arrives. People’s livelihoods depend on it,” she said.

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