May 12 2017 08:32 AM

Milk quality is determined by measuring Somatic Cell Counts (SCC).

The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Cows with lower SCC milk produce better quality milk with better

taste, longer shelf life, and improved yield and quality of dairy

products.

Cows with lower SCC milk also reflect superior cow care and animal

welfare.

Milk quality starts at the farm level and cannot be improved as it

travels through the processing path to finished dairy product.

Therefore, NDPO encourages U.S. dairy farmers to produce the best

quality of milk by giving dairy farmers an incentive of $250 for each

milking cow culled for beef with a history of milk produced exceeding

400,000 SCC. This offer is available to only NDPO members and is

funded through agri-businesses wanting to assist in quality milk

reaching the consumer. (Limitations apply).

NDPO's milk quality improvement program will not only promote

improved animal welfare and superior USA dairy products but will

also benefit the dairy farmer milk price by better balancing the milk

supply with profitable demand.