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.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cut/oai:ir.cut.ac.za:11462/264 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Linde, Susanna. Gezina. |
| Contributors | de Beer, H., Central University of Technology, Free State. Skool vir Landbou- en Omgewingswetenskappe |
| Publisher | Bloemfontein: Central University of Technology, Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 668 455 bytes, 1 file, Application/PDF |
| Rights | Central University of Technology, Free State |
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