Milk
quality standards and testing protocols, which are enforced on behalf of the
government by Dairy Farmers of Ontario, are amended to merge with counterparts
in
Quebec,
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
The
amendments include:
•Changing
the method for calculating when bacterial content, somatic cell count and
abnormal freezing point will result in a penalty and
•Instituting
a warning, rather than a penalty, for the first freezing-point problem in a 12
month period.
Animal
Care and Welfare regulations have been adopted, at the request of Dairy Farmers
of Ontario, so care and handling can be checked as part of the on-farm
inspection program. Proposed requirements include:
•A
prohibition on tail docking unless it is medically necessary as determined by a
veterinarian;
•Requirements
related to the location and disposal of dead farm animals;
•Requirements
that cattle must be:
-
stabled or milked in premises that are designed in a manner that does not cause
injury or lameness;
-
provided a ration, including water, that maintains health and vigour;
-
identified for traceability and herd management purposes; and
-
provided with hoof care to ensure hooves are maintained in good condition.
The
proposed amendments would allow DFO's Director of Regulatory Compliance to
require a producer to obtain a written assessment from a veterinarian regarding
animal care and welfare and to follow the recommendations from that
veterinarian.
The dairy
board asked for, and got, a number of other changes to Regulation 761
including:
•Setting
out milk cooling requirements for second and subsequent millings;
•Rejection
of milk by bulk tank milk graders where milk cannot be properly graded by sight
and smell;
•Removing
the requirement that time temperature recorders display the time and date
during power interruptions; and,
•Clarifying
that milk is marketed once transfer to the tank-truck has started.
Amendments
to sections related to cow milk will result in a number of consequential
amendments related to goat milk.
“The amendments would be consistent with
current industry norms, and provide standards for bacteria, SCC and abnormal
freezing point for goat milk,” the commission says.
“The amendments regarding
the rejection of milk where it cannot be properly graded, blend temperatures
and clarifying when milk is considered marketed will also apply to the goat
sector to ensure consistent parameters and outcomes for both species.”
