About Us
   

QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM ENSURES FRESH, CLEAN MILK

Well-trained employees, state-of-the-art milking equipment and testing procedures on every tank of milk contribute to meeting the milk quality goals at Haagenson Farms, Inc. But the cows play a crucial role, too. Each cow’s life story is meticulously tracked on the computer - including birthdays, milk weights and health records.

David Haagenson
South Dakota
520 Cows


Ensuring Quality

Strange as it may sound, cows are a lot like people – give them a clean place to live, fresh food and water to eat and drink along with a little TLC, and they will thrive. It’s here that quality milk gets its start. Farmers understand the importance of keeping their cows healthy and comfortable, and their dairy farms clean. They also understand the value of state and federal regulations to ensure the continued quality and safety of dairy products across the country.

Quality Starts on the Farm
Farmers pay special attention to the diets and living conditions of their animals. Just as some people consult dietitians to help them eat right, many dairy farmers consult with feed nutritionists to design a diet for their cows that is well balanced. Good food is the first step toward good milk. 

Properly sanitized equipment and thorough cleaning of the cow’s udder prior to milking is equally important. As the cow is being milked, her milk flows through refrigerated pipes to a sanitized bulk tank where it is immediately cooled down from her body temperature -- about 100 degrees F -- to 38-45 degrees F. This preserves freshness and guarantees safety. The milk will soon be picked up by a milk truck, which serves as a giant refrigerator on wheels.

On-farm Testing Happens Daily
Before the milk is delivered to the processing plant, the milk truck driver takes a sample of the milk to test for impurities, such as animal drug residues, that would compromise quality. If antibiotic residue is detected, the entire tank of milk is immediately discarded, never to reach America’s families. The farmer responsible for the impure milk may have to pay the cost of the entire truckload of milk, so each farmer’s incentive to maintain milk quality is high. Government data indicates that less than one tanker in 3,000 tests positive for animal drug residues, a sign that the deterrent system is working.

Farm Inspections are Routine
Inspectors from state regulatory agencies and milk processing plants make surprise visits to farms on a regular basis. These unannounced visits are just one more set of checks and balances to make sure animal living conditions are clean, milking equipment is being properly sanitized and the facilities in general provide a safe working environment for all.


 
To download the Quality and Safety PDF click here