Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
ATCP 55-89 - Food, Lodging, and Recreation Safety
Chapter ATCP 65 - Milk And Milk Products
Subchapter II - Dairy Farms
Section ATCP 65.18 - Milking procedure

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code § ATCP 65.18

Current through February 24, 2025

(1) PREPARING MILKING ANIMALS FOR MILKING. A milk producer shall clip the flanks, udder, belly, and tail of each milking animal as often as necessary to facilitate cleaning. The tail, belly, and flanks shall be reasonably free of visible dirt at the time of milking. If flanks and udders are brushed, brushing shall be completed before milking begins. Hair on udders shall be kept short enough so that it is not incorporated with the teat in the milking machine inflation during milking. The udder of each milking animal shall be clean at the time of milking. Teats shall be cleaned, sanitized, and dried immediately before milking. Wet hand milking is prohibited.

(2) TRANSFER AND PROTECTION OF MILK. Milk shall be protected from contamination at all times. Upon being drawn from milking animals, milk shall immediately be transferred from the milking barn or parlor to the milkhouse. Containers of milk may not be stored in the milking barn or parlor. If milk is transferred to the milkhouse in containers, rather than through a pipeline or other vacuum transfer system, the milk producer shall transfer each container of milk to the milkhouse immediately after it is filled. Milk contact surfaces of equipment and utensils used to collect or transfer milk shall be protected from contamination before and during use. Inflations that contact unclean substances such as manure or water on the milking parlor floor after milking of an animal is complete shall be cleaned and sanitized before being used to milk the next animal. Milk containers shall be covered to protect milk and milk contact surfaces from contamination, except when milk is being poured into or out of the container. Milk that overflows, leaks, or spills from its proper container or transfer vessel shall be discarded.

(3) PERSONNEL; CLEANLINESS. Milkers and milk handlers shall wash and dry their hands before engaging in milking or milk handling operations, and before resuming such operations after engaging in other activities. Milkers and milk handlers shall wear clean outer garments so that milk, milk contact surfaces, or the hands of a milker or milk handler do not become contaminated by contact with soiled outer garments. If outer garments become soiled, they must be changed. No person may engage in milking or milk handling operations if that person exhibits reportable symptoms of a communicable disease as defined in s. ATCP 75 Appendix 2-201.11 (A) (1) or has received a reportable diagnosis of communicable disease as defined in s. ATCP 75 Appendix 2-201.11 (A) (2).

(4) COOLING MILK.

(a) Except as provided under par. (b), milk shall be cooled to 50°F. (10°C.) or less within 4 hours after the start of the first milking, and to 45°F. (7°C) or less within 2 hours after the end of milking. The temperature of the blended milk from the first milking and later milkings shall not exceed 50°F. (10°C.).

(b) Grade B milk in cans shall be cooled to 50° F. (10° C.) or less within 2 hours after milking, and shall be kept at or below 50° F. (10° C.) until it is delivered to the dairy plant. If milk is stored or cooled in cans, milk from a morning milking shall not be commingled with milk from an evening milking.

(c) Frozen sheep milk shall be maintained in a frozen state for not more than 60 days from the time it was collected on a dairy farm and shall remain frozen until received by a dairy plant.

(5) STRAINING MILK. Milk shall be strained before it flows into a bulk tank or shipping container. Only clean, single-service filters may be used to strain milk. Filters shall not be reused.

(6) COMMINGLING OF MILK FROM DIFFERENT MILKING SPECIES PROHIBITED. A milk producer may not commingle milk from one species of milking animal with the milk of another species of milking animal.

Note: Cows are the same species, even if they are of different breeds, so their milk may be commingled. However, cows and goats are different species and their milk may not be commingled.

(7) MILK COOLING AND STORAGE. Milk cooled and stored on a dairy farm shall be cooled and stored in facilities that comply with this chapter.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin 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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