Dairy farmers producing Australia’s best quality milk have been named in Dairy Australia’s 2020 Milk Quality Awards.
The awards recognise farmers producing the country’s best milk based on bulk milk cell count (BMCC).
Gold Awards are given to the ‘Top 100’ dairy farmers nationally for milk quality. Together with Silver Award winners, these farmers are the top five per cent of Australian producers for milk quality.
Dairy Australia managing director David Nation congratulated the 2020 winners.
“The industry can take pride in the achievement of all winners of these awards,” he said.
“Getting to this level takes consistent focus across the year on all aspects of the milking process, including effective mastitis control and maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
“This dedication underpins the high quality of Australian dairy products.”
A focus on low BMCC helps increase milk yields and can improve the milk income received by farmers.
Most processing companies pay a premium for milk with a BMCC below 250,000 cells/ml and Dairy Australia analysis estimates that a farmer milking 300 cows who lowers their BMCC from 250,000 to 100,000 would be financially better off to the tune of $39,000 per year.
Dr Nation said Dairy Australia’s Countdown program had helped support an industry-wide focus on profitable mastitis control in dairy herds.
Dairying regions were well represented throughout the Top 100, with 57 western Victorian farms represented, while almost one-fifth of award recipients hailed from northern Victoria and 15 recipients were located in Gippsland.
Seven award winners are from Tasmania, while South Australia has two, Queensland has five, NSW has three and Western Australia has four.
“Dairy farmers can improve milk quality by attending training courses nationwide provided by our eight Regional Development Programs,” Dr Nation said.
“We also have a network of nearly 300 Dairy Australia-trained Countdown advisers, including vets, machine technicians, factory field officers and herd improvement staff across the country.
“Farmers can also access a range of online resources on Dairy Australia’s website and use other services like DataGene.”
Data for the Milk Quality Awards is supplied to Dairy Australia by dairy companies across the country.
To be eligible, dairy farms must have data for a minimum of nine months in a calendar year. Monthly averages are then used to calculate the annual average BMCC for each farm.
Lists of winners and some case studies can be accessed at: www.dairyaustralia.com.au/farm/animal-management/mastitis/milk-quality-awards/2020-milk-quality-award-winners
2020 Milk Quality Award winners
Northern Victoria
Ashdale 55 Pty Ltd
Ashley J Fiedler
BD & KL Mitchell
C & R Cavallaro
Campbell Jr
CL Freemantle Pty Ltd
Coowonga Family Trust
D & M Colbert
JW & VL Douglas
C & N Hibberson
SG & SJ Jones
RA & HJ Doolan Pty Ltd
RJ & JR Rixon Pty Ltd
RJ Perkins & SF Evans
SJ & AK Christopher
SC & VJ Winchester
H & S Stephens
NJ Wild NJ
WJ & A Stammers
Western Victoria
AN Buckley
Araluen Pastoral Holdings P/L
Ballangeich Run Pty Ltd
Bidgemah Trust
Blain Dairying Pty Ltd
KJ Boys
CA & AL Duro
CA & KL Spokes Family Trust
Carrakoorte North Pty Ltd
CL & CL Costin
CL & JM Drake
CP & MJ Nijskens
HF Crabbe
CW & AM Smart
DC Johnson Pty Ltd
Denbigh Pastoral Trust
DG Hallyburton & RS Hallyburton
Dixie Ridge Farm Pty Ltd
L Fielding
GA & JL Crothers
M & L Gardiner
GF & RL Lloyd
Glenmead Pty Ltd - Atf Smith Farm Trust
Guye Family Trust
Howard Farm Trust
HU Vogel & S Vogel
HW & BE Elliott
IR & JA Rhode
J, S & T Brown Pty Ltd
Kangertong Farming Pty Ltd
KP Campbell & The Campbell Family Trust
Laang Farm Partnership
LJ Balcombe General Transport P/L Atf Balbat Trading Trust
HF & FA Lowe
AH Lucas
KA Massey
ML & KE Ryan
Nolane Investments P/L Atf Lestin Invest Discretionary Trust
IG & RL Nunn
PA & KM Finlayson
Powell Dairy Farms Pty Ltd Atf Warraboon Farm
RM Morey
RC & SJ Methven
RF & NP Bourk
RJ & EH Swayn
AM & TJ Robertson
Seabrook Holdings (Vic) Pty Ltd
SJ & AE Watson Pty Ltd
The Trustee For B & R Couch Family Trust
The Trustee For Eirenclare Farms Unit Trust
The Trustee For Scotts Creek Dairies Family Trust
TJ & CJ Beasley
Udderly Fed Up Pty Ltd
VDL Dairies Ltd Island View
Willie Hawker Pty Ltd
TA Willie & Son
WJ & VL Crole Family Trust
Gippsland
KD & IM Askew
D & S McCann
DW & CG & FC & DL Armstrong
DG & DL Green
JH Cuthbertson Pty Ltd
Jim & Heather Harvey
TK & SP Moss
PF Crea
RL & B Lade
S & J Bland
SB & IF Derrick
TL Geary (91-1)
Tarago River Farms Pty Ltd
The Trustee For Potter Family Trust
GV & JL Waltham
Western Australia
HD Harrison & Co.
Ian & Ruth Mcgregor
L Fitzpatrick
M & A Brett
New South Wales
Hillgrove Dairy Pty Ltd
NC & V Joiner
NG & NG & TJ Pearce T/A Warwick Farm Enterprises
Queensland
B & J Wieck
PF Borham
MA & TM Griffiths
IJ Kennaugh
DG, AL, GR & MD Zischke
South Australia
DM Daffy & GA Daffy
DO & KM Hunter
Tasmania
JW & VL Douglas
Dunbar Family Trust
RT Green
RM & LM Heathcote
Mount Patrick Estate
GJ Pump
Sheffield School Farm