Novi Lab
MMPA owns and operates its own laboratory, so MMPA members are assured
of accurate, timely testing. The MMPA laboratory located at the Novi office is a certified
laboratory operating 6 days a week, performing a variety of lab tests. Samples are taken
every pickup from member's bulk tanks by their hauler and transported to the Novi Lab.
Regulatory Tests conducted by the Novi Lab are forwarded to the State Regulatory Agencies
and are also used in calculating MMPA quality premiums.
The Novi Lab supervisor holds a bachelor's degree in bacteriology from
the University of Wisconsin. All lab technicians are officially certified by the State.
The laboratory itself is inspected every year to ensure it is meeting state and federal
regulations.
All samples tested are maintained at 32-40° F at all times prior to
testing.
Producers are notified immediately after lab tests are completed by
mail, e-mail, or fax generated from the main frame computer, or directly to the producers computer
if they are on line.
The following tests are conducted at the Novi Lab:
Raw Bacteria Counts
The results from the raw bacteria tests are a criteria for the MMPA
Quality Premium Program and are required as a regulatory test by FDA. Raw bacteria counts
are an indication of cleanliness, milking hygiene, milking equipment sanitation, cooling
system efficiency, and infected cows.
Procedure: Samples are tested on the Bactoscan. The
Bactoscan is a machine that can automatically determine the
bacteria level in raw milk. Results are available
within 8 minutes of testing the sample.
Important Limits
| MMPA Quality Premium Program: |
10,000 or less |
| MMPA member representative //alerted: |
50,000 or greater |
| ---(Farm call made) |
|
| Quality premium payment deduction: |
>100,000 |
| ---(Illegal under Grade A regulations) |
|
Pre-Incubated (PI) bacteria counts
High PI counts indicate the presence of outside contamination possibly
from soil organisms or unclean milk contact surfaces, and unclean bulk tanks.
Procedure: The sample is incubated for 18 hours at 55° F. After 18
hours, the sample is removed and tested in the same manner as the raw bacteria count.
Important Limits
| Quality Premium Program: |
20,000 or less |
| MMPA member representative //alerted: |
100,000 or greater |
| ---(Farm call made) |
|
Somatic Cell Count
Somatic Cell Counts (SCC) are an indication of mastitis. They include a
combination of white blood cells and epithelial cells which are produced in the udder of a
cow infected with mastitis. The level of cells correlates with the level of infection.
Procedure: SCC are tested by the a machine called a Combifoss. The
Combifoss tests for SCC at the same time it tests butterfat and protein levels. The sample
is warmed to 100° F in a water bath before testing. Test results of the SCC are
transmitted directly from the Combifoss to the mainframe computer.
Sediment Test
A three ounce sample of milk is filtered through a sediment tester which
deposits the amount of sediment on a pad. The pads are then compared to a chart standard
to determine the amount of sediment present. No sediment present is graded a sediment
number 1. Excessive sediments are a number 4. Sediments above the 3 and 4 levels will
disqualify the producer for quality premium payments.
Freeze Points
An instrument called a cyroscope is used to determine the freezing point
of the milk sample. The closer the freeze point is to that of water, 0° C, the more water
present in the milk. Normal milk freezes at -.540°, and water freezes at 0°. Using these
two figures, it is determined that the closer the sample is to 0° , the more water it has
in it. Freeze points will vary seasonally.
All samples having low lactose levels, as determined by the combifoss,
are tested for freeze point levels with a cryoscope.
Well Water Supply Tests
Farm well water supply tests are required every three years or when
repairs to the water distribution system are made. The well water supply test determines
the presence of coliform bacteria in the water, which are an indication of possible
contamination of the water supply.
Drug Residue Testing
Every load of milk is tested every day
at the dairy plants for the presence of antibiotics prior to unloading. Antibiotic testing
is done on all producer regulatory samples. The lab also conducts drug residue on cow
samples submitted by members. Samples submitted for drug residue testing must be
identified as to which drug is suspected. The Novi lab runs tests specific for Sulfas,
Gentamicins, Tetracyclines, beta lactams, etc.
Butterfat, Protein, and Other Solids Testing
Producers are paid for total pounds of butterfat, protein, and other
solids based on the average of tests done during the month. A maximum of 10 tests are used
to calculate the average. These component levels are measured by use of the
Combifoss. This instrument determines butterfat, protein, and other solids on farm bulk
tank samples and automatically transfers the test results into the mainframe computer
where it is stored for calculating milk checks.
Quality Control
MMPA employees conduct audits where the hauler delivers the milk to
ensure that samples brought to the lab are maintained at 32° - 40° F and are not
leaking. They also inspect bulk tanks, conduct water, scale, and butterfat audits so that
producer weights and tests match the loads received at the plant purchasing MMPA milk.
Bulk Tank Calibration
Bulk tanks are calibrated by an MMPA employee to assure that the farm
milk weights are properly measured. Tanks are calibrated when installed or any time they
are moved. Members are also provided with new calibration charts when needed. |
