Please read the abstract in the section, 00front of this document / Dissertation (M Inst Agrar (Land-Use Planning))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development / MInst Agrar / Unrestricted

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2008 / In this study, the development and implementation of a quality-monitoring program for raw milk as part of the quality management system of a milk processor was studied. Various aspects that contribute to raw milk quality were also included. Ten factors that are important in the production of good quality raw milk were summarised in the Ten Point Plan for the production of quality raw milk. Thirty-eight producers, who have supplied raw milk to the processor over a period of five year, were involved in this program. The producers are located all over the Northwest Province. Sixty thousand litres of milk is processed at the processor daily. The milk is taken in from the farms on alternative days by tankers supplied by the processor. A mark sheet was developed to evaluate control points during milking that can be measured directly from the laboratory. This was done monthly. Factors that could not be measured in the laboratory were evaluated when visits to the milk parlours were done twice a year. At the end of the year, the results of the mark sheet as well as the results of the parlour audits were compiled on a quality chart and the results were calculated as a percentage. The processor used the results of the quality charts to reward producers for quality milk. It was found that producers do not have the necessary infrastructure and knowledge to analyse milk. Analysing the raw milk and releasing the results to the producer are important measures to identify and manage problem areas that can pose a risk to the production of good quality raw milk. It is very important to supply the producer with the correct and relevant information because most of the representatives of companies, which visit the farms, supply information to the benefit of the product they sell. A formal monitoring program ensures that raw milk adhere to quality measures due to the fact that producers know the basic principles necessary for the production of good quality raw milk and the fact that the producer can implement measures in his/her own unique farm environment. The implementation of the Ten Point Plan for the production of quality raw milk at the processor had a significant influence on the quality of raw milk that was bought from producers. During times of milk shortages, the processor had to buy milk from alternative sources, which have no quality-monitoring program. Most of the times, this milk did not comply with the law regarding the total bacterial count, the coliform count, and the E. coli count. Record keeping is an important part of the management system of a dairy. Results from this study stressed a meaningful relationship between the keeping of records as mentioned in the Ten Point Plan and the production of good quality raw milk. It is recommended that producers be sharpened regarding the requirements for the production of good quality raw milk. Purchasing good quality raw milk assured the marketing of the best quality dairy products to the consumer. The contribution of this study to the dairy industry is the fact that the implementation of a quality-monitoring program ensures the maintenance of a sustainable quality of raw milk to the industry.