Current through Bulletin 2024-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Milking Facility and Housing.
(a) A milking barn or milking parlor of
adequate size and arrangement shall be provided to permit normal sanitary
milking operations.
(i) The milking barn or
milking parlor shall be well lighted and ventilated, and the floors and gutters
in the milking area shall be constructed of concrete or other impervious
material.
(ii) The milking barn or
milking parlor shall be kept clean, the manure removed daily, and no swine,
fowl, or other animals shall be permitted in any part of the milking
area.
(iii) Concentrates and feed,
if stored in the building, shall be kept in a tightly covered box or
bin.
(b) Animal
biologics and other drugs intended for treatment of animals, and insecticides
approved for use in dairy operations, shall be clearly labeled and used in
accordance with label instructions, and shall be stored in a manner that will
prevent accidental contact with milk and milk contact surfaces.
(i) Only drugs that are approved by the FDA
or biologics approved by the USDA for use in dairy animals that are properly
labeled according to FDA or USDA regulations shall be administered.
(ii) When drug storage is located in the
milkroom, milkhouse, or milking area, the drugs shall be stored in a closed,
tight-fitting storage unit.
(iii)
Drugs shall be segregated in a way so that drugs labeled for use in lactating
dairy animals are separated from drugs labeled for use in non-lactating dairy
animals.
(c) The yard or
loafing area shall be of ample size to prevent overcrowding, shall be drained
to prevent forming of water pools, and shall be kept clean.
(2) Milking Procedure.
(a) The udders and flanks of each milking cow
shall be kept clean.
(i) The udders and teats
shall be washed, sanitized, and wiped dry with a clean damp cloth, paper towel,
or any other sanitary method.
(ii)
The milker's clothing shall be clean and the milker's hands shall be clean and
dry.
(iii) No person with an
infected cut or open sore on the person's hands or arms shall milk cows, or
handle milk or milk containers, utensils or equipment.
(b) Milk stools and surcingles shall be kept
clean and properly stored. Dusty operations shall not be conducted immediately
before or during milking.
(c) Milk
must be protected against contamination while straining.
(3) Cooling. Milk shall be cooled to 45
degrees Fahrenheit (F) or lower within two hours after each milking and
maintained at 45 degrees F or lower until transferred to the transport tank.
(4) Milkhouse or milkroom.
(a) A milkhouse or milkroom conveniently
located and properly constructed, lighted, and ventilated shall be provided for
handling and storing the utensils and equipment.
(i) The milkhouse or milkroom shall not be
used for any other purpose, and shall be equipped with hot water, two
compartment wash vat, utensil rack and cooling facilities for the
milk.
(ii) The milkhouse or
milkroom shall be partitioned, sealed, and screened to prevent the entrance of
dust, flies, or other contamination.
(iii) The floor of the milkhouse or milkroom
shall be of concrete or other impervious material and graded to a
drain.
(iv) The walls and ceilings
of the milkhouse or milkroom shall be constructed of smooth easily cleaned
material.
(v) Any outside doors of
the milkhouse or milkroom shall be self-closing.
(vi) The milkhouse or milkroom shall have at
least 20- foot candles of light provided in each working area.
(b) The farm tank shall be
properly located in the milkroom.
(i) There
shall be at least 18 inches clearance with 24- inches recommended on three
sides of the tank and at least 36- inches on the outlet side of the tank for
access to each area for cleaning and servicing.
(ii) The farm tank may not be located over a
floor drain, under a ventilator or under a light fixture.
(c) An adequate platform or slab constructed
of concrete or other impervious material shall be provided outside the milk
house, properly centered under a suitable port opening in the wall of the
milkhouse.
(i) The opening shall be fitted
with a tight self-closing door.
(ii) The truck approach to the milkhouse or
milkroom shall be properly graded and surfaced to prevent mud or pooling of
water at the point of loading.
(d) Building plan approval. Plans for new
dairy building construction or remodeling shall be submitted to the department
for approval before construction begins.
(5) Utensils and Equipment.
(a) Utensils, milk coolers, milking machines
, including pipeline systems, and other equipment used in the handling of milk
shall be maintained in good repair, and shall be washed, rinsed, and drained
after each milking, stored in suitable facilities, and sanitized immediately
before use.
(b) Farm bulk tanks
shall meet 3-A sanitary standards and accepted practice for construction when
installed, and shall be properly installed.
(6) Water Supply.
(a) The dairy farm water supply shall be
approved, properly protected and of safe, sanitary quality, and have ample
water and pressure for the cleaning of dairy utensils and equipment.
(b) An automatic hot water storage tank,
pressure type, of adequate size shall be provided but shall not be less than
30- gallon capacity and equipped with a thermostat capable of maintaining water
temperature at least 140 degrees F. Gas water heaters, if used, shall be
properly ventilated.
(7)
Sewage Disposal. Sewage shall be disposed of in a manner that complies with
state and federal requirements.
(8)
There shall be available in the milkhouse or room a dairy type thermometer,
accurate within two degrees F, integral with the tank construction or
operation.
(a) The driver shall have an
accurate approved type thermometer.
(b) The driver shall periodically check the
thermometer by a qualified method to determine its accuracy.
(c) Thermometers shall be properly sanitized
before each use.
(9)
Qualifications for Farm Certification. Farm certification requires compliance
with the items listed on the Farm Certification Report Form as follows:
(a) a rating of satisfactory for any items in
Subsection R70-320-11(1); and
(b) a
total rating of at least 85% for the applicable items in Subsection
R70-320-11(2), with no individual item rated less than 75% of its maximum
score.