Arizona Administrative Code
Title 3 - AGRICULTURE
Chapter 2 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE - ANIMAL SERVICES DIVISION
Article 8 - DAIRY AND DAIRY PRODUCTS CONTROL
Section R3-2-806 - Parlors and Milk Rooms

Universal Citation: AZ Admin Code R 3-2-806

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 52, December 27, 2024

A. Construction Plans.

1. Any person constructing or extensively altering a parlor or milk room shall submit the plans and specifications to the Dairy Supervisor for written approval before work begins. The Dairy Supervisor shall approve or deny the plans within 10 business days.

2. Plans shall consist of a scaled plot design with elevations and pertinent dimensions.

3. Any deviations from the requirements in this Section and from approved plans and specifications may be made only after written approval of the Dairy Supervisor.

B. Site.

1. The parlor and milk room shall be located in a place free from contaminated surroundings.

2. Feed racks, calf pens, bull pens, hog pens, poultry pens, horse stables, horse corrals, and shelter sheds shall not be closer than 100 feet to the milk room or closer than 50 feet to the parlor.

C. Surroundings.

1. Dirt or unpaved corrals and unpaved lanes shall not be closer than 25 feet to the parlor or closer than 50 feet to the milk room; corrals shall be constructed to remove runoff from the lowest point of the grade.

2. A paved (concrete or equivalent) ramp or corral shall be provided to allow the animals to enter and leave the parlor. This paved area shall be curbed sufficiently high enough to contain waste material and water used to clean this area.

D. Drains and waste disposal systems shall be adequate to drain the volume of water used in rinsing and cleaning, as well as the waste created by animals in the parlor. Instead of natural drainage, automatic pumps or other means shall be provided for drainage disposal.

E. Milk room.

1. The milk room shall consist of one or more rooms for the handling of the milk and the cleaning, sanitization, and storage of the milk-handling equipment. Hot and cold running water outlets shall be provided as needed for sanitation . There shall be a minimum of five feet between a farm milk tank at the widest point and the milk room wall where the wash vats are installed. Except for currently installed milk tanks, there shall be at least three feet between any farm tank or farm tank appurtenance and the milk room walls.

2. Passageway. The passageway between the milk room and parlor shall have at least a 3-foot clearance for ingress and egress . Equipment such as milk receivers, dump tanks, or coolers that are part of an enclosed milk line system may be installed in the passageway if:
a. A 3-foot clearance is allowed for the walkway;

b. Space is provided between walls and equipment to permit the disassembly of equipment for cleaning or inspection;

c. The passageway between the parlor and the milk room may be closed at one end. The parlor may be separated from the passageway by a pipe rail fence if the slope of the parlor floor is away from the passageway. If the slope of the parlor floor is toward the passageway, a concrete wall between the passageway and parlor floor of at least 12 inches in height shall be provided.

d. Rustless pipe sleeves with tight-fitting flanges and protective closures shall be installed where the milk lines, hoses for tankers, and wash lines go through the walls of the passageway.

3. Floors.
a. The floors of the milk room, and passageway, if provided, shall be constructed of four-inch thick concrete, or other impervious material troweled smooth. The milk room floor shall slope at least 1/4 inch per 12 inches to a vented trapped drain. The passageway floor shall slope at least one inch per 10 feet toward a drain or gutter. All floor and wall junctions shall have at least a two-inch radius cove.

b. Drainage from the milk room may be independent from or connected to the parlor drainage. Floor drains shall be vented, have a water trap, and a clean-out plug. All floor drains and pipes under the milk room and parlor floor shall meet all applicable plumbing codes.

4. Walls and ceilings.
a. All walls and ceilings shall be constructed of a light colored, impervious material with a smooth finish. If concrete block or masonry construction is used, all voids below the floor line shall be filled with concrete.

b. The main ceiling height shall allow sufficient room for access to, and sampling from, the bulk milk storage tank.

5. Doors and windows.
a. All opening windows shall have at least 16-inch mesh screen.

b. Exterior doors of the milk room shall open outward, be solid, self-closing, and tight fitting. Any door from the passageway shall be a solid door, metal covered on both sides of the bottom half. Wooden door jambs or frames shall terminate six inches above the floor, and the concrete floor cove shall extend to the jambs or frames.

c. All working areas in the milk room shall contain at least 30 foot-candles of natural and/or artificial lighting.

6. Ventilation. The milk room shall provide adequate ventilation to minimize condensation on ceilings, walls and equipment. Vents shall be protected from the penetration of insects, dust and other contaminants. The milk room shall contain one or more ceiling vents. . Ceiling vents shall not be installed directly above bulk milk storage tanks.

7. Tanker loading area. A tanker-loading area, at least 10 feet by 12 feet, paved, curbed, and sloped to drain, shall be provided adjacent to the milk room where milk is transferred from a farm tank to a milk tanker. If a tanker is used instead of a farm tank, a tanker shelter shall be provided that complies with the construction, light, drainage, and general maintenance requirements of the milk room.

8. Farm tank installations. All farm tanks for the cooling and storing of milk shall be installed in the milk room. Bulk milk tanks equipped with agitator shaft opening seals may, if approved by the Dairy Supervisor, be bulk-headed through a wall.

F. Parlor.

1. Floors.
a. The floors shall be constructed of four-inch thick concrete or other, light-colored, impervious material, finished smooth. The floors, alleys, gutters, mangers, and curbs shall slope lengthwise toward a drain or gutter. The cow standing platform in the elevated stall parlor shall slope sufficiently to provide for adequate drainage and cleaning.

b. Floor and wall junctions shall have at least a two-inch radius cove and shall be an integral part of the floor.

c. The cow standing platform, litter alley, holding corral and concrete lane shall be treated to prevent slipping.

2. Walls. All walls shall be constructed of a light-colored, impervious material. If necessary, means shall be provided to prevent the entrance of swine, fowl and other prohibited animals. . All walls shall be finished smooth on the inside with the top ledge rounded on open walls. If a parlor wall forms a part of the holding corral or an entrance or exit lane, it shall be finished smooth on the outside. If a concrete block or masonry construction is used, all voids below the floor line shall be filled with concrete. In elevated stall parlors, the wall under the cow standing platform adjacent to the milking area shall be finished smooth and designed to prevent leakage.

3. Stalls. . A tandem stall and a herringbone stall shall have a smooth, flat, non-absorbent splash panel behind each cow.

4. Light. Natural and/or artificial light shall be at least 30 foot-candles at the floor level and located to minimize shadows in the milking area.

5. Gutters.
a. All parlors shall have gutters to catch the defecation of cows while in the stall and for any water used for rinsing.

b. Pipe used for parlor gutter drainage shall be at least four inches in diameter and meet applicable plumbing codes.

6. Curbs.
a. In elevated stall parlors, the cow standing platform shall be curbed on the side next to the milking alley and the curb shall be at least six inches in height with the top rounded to retain the elevated stall floor washings. This curb may be lowered to not less than two inches at the area where the milking machines are applied. Metal curbs shall be free of voids and sealed to stall and floor or wall.

b. Floor level parlors shall contain a curb under the stanchion line at least six inches wide, 12 inches high from the stall floor, except if metal mangers are used the top of this curb shall be rounded.

7. Stanchions.
a. The stanchion shall be metal or other impervious, easily cleanable material.

.

b. Mangers and feed boxes in all types of parlors shall be constructed of impervious materials, finished smooth, and provided with drainage outlets at low points.

8. Ventilation.

Adequate ventilation shall be provided in the parlor, holding corral, and wash area, if roofed.

G. Roof drainage from parlors and milk rooms shall not drain into a corral unless the corral is paved and properly drained.

H. If animals are fed in the parlor, feed storage facilities shall be provided. Feed storage rooms, when installed, shall be partitioned from the parlor and shall be fly and rodent proof. The feed discharge area of the bulk feed storage shall be concrete or other impervious material that is curbed and drained. Bulk feed may discharge directly into the parlor. A bulk feed tank located opposite the passageway shall be at least six feet from the milk room. Overhead feed storage is permissible if it is fly, rodent, and dust tight. Feed shall be conveyed to the manger or feed box in a tightly closed dust-free system. Overhead metal feed tanks may be used.

I. Facilities to store dairy supplies shall be provided. Only supplies that come in contact with the milk or milk contact surface of the milk-handling equipment may be stored in the milk room and shall be protected from toxic materials, vectors, and dust.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Arizona may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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