On the 25th we attended a talk given by a vet in the local farmers’ coop on the links between milk quality and the problem of cheese swelling. The talk considered those aspects of dairy farming prac- tice –milk production- which could result in problems for cheese making, focusing on the use of silage (it is far better to use hay, but hay making obviously depends in part on the local climate), adequacy of mowing practices (basically making sure no soil is in the cut grass by not cutting grass too near the ground, making sure the grass is not wet when cutting, not mowing too soon after slurry spreading….) and optimization of milking practices (particularly cleanliness in all phases of milking). The talk centered on aflatoxinas and butyrics although other microtoxins are also important to bear in mind. The talk has provided us with some useful reminders of the importance of good farming practice for our dairy business.
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