January/February 2015
Milk Matters
Action Group on Johne’s launches
the National Johne’s Management
Plan
In October of last year the Action
Group on Johne’s (which includes
representatives from DairyUK,
DairyCo, farming unions, the
BCVA and other industry bodies)
put a new National Johne’s
Management Plan out for
consultation. Phase 1 is
scheduled to commence on 01 April
2015 and run until 31 September
2016. In this period the key goal
for dairy farmers is to verify the
Johne’s status of their herd. The
project will also look to ensure that
farmers and vets have the skills to
control and reduce the prevalence
of the disease over time. The plan
sets an objective in phase 1 of 80%
of dairy herds implementing one of
the six control strategies developed
by the Action Group on Johne’s in
consultation with their vet. These
six control strategies are outlined
on the Action Group on Johne’s
website (www.actionjohnesuk.org).
In recent weeks the Action Group
on Johne’s has completed the
consultation process regarding the
plan and has taken on board
comments and suggestions from a
number of industry
organisations. The plan National
Johne’s management plan will be
launched fully on 01 April 2015.
Alongside the confirmation of the
plan, the Action Group has secured
funding for the appointment of a
service provider to deliver the
main components of the plan. The
service provider will work with
organisations represented on the
Action Group on Johne’s to ensure
that the goals are achieved.
NML is pleased to be supporting
this initiative as the cost of Johne’s
in terms of cow health are
becoming increasingly recognised.
It is clear that a national initiative
is needed to ensure widespread
engagement in Johne’s control
across the industry rather than
being tackled only by the more
progressive dairy farmers. NML
will look to provide updates on
progress with this initiative
through future editions of this
newsletter and through the client
meeting in May. If you wish to
find out more about this initiative
and how the initiative can help you
encourage your farmers to engage
in effective Johne’s surveillance
and control please do
get in touch
([email protected]).
Ben Bartlett
(NML),
Peter Dawson
(Dairy UK)
In this edition:
We can help encourage your
farmers to engage in Johne’s
control
p2
Client meeting
p2
Download the app
p2
Transport delays
p3
Investigating spring quality
challenges
p3
Latest figures from NML p4
Improving label positioning,
correct label positioning and
Hall of Shame
p4
We can help
encourage your
farmers to
engage in
Johne’s control
As well as posing a potential risk
to human heath through the
possible link to Chrone’s disease,
Johne’s disease can have a massive
impact on the sustainability of a
dairy farm. As a result NML is
offering a package of services to it’s
clients to help them encourage
suppliers to engage in effective
Johne’s control. This package of
services includes:

Targeted mailings to
farmers

Telesales follow up to
encourage engagement

Farmer meetings with
expert vet speaker to
highlight best practice in
Johne’s control

Analysis of Johne’s
engagement
We do not charge for the mailings,
telesales and data analysis and
have access to sponsorship to
subsidise farmer meetings.
If you are interested please contact
Sam Fewings
([email protected]) or Nicola
Hares ([email protected])
Sam Fewings
PAGE 2
Client Meeting
This years first NML client
meeting will be a chance for you to
catch up with recent developments
at NML and will give you the
opportunity to learn about new
NML services being offered to
address some of the challenges
facing the industry in 2015.
This year we will also have a vet
expert Peter Edmondson MRCVS,
highlighting the keys to selective
dry cow therapy and Nick Kirby,
CEO from BullSemen.com
(Inemex) highlighting the role that
genetics can play in determining
milk quality and constituents.
It will be held on 14th May at our
Wolverhampton laboratory - NML,
Laches Close, Calibre Industrial
Park, Four Ashes, WV10 7DZ.
We ask you to arrive from 9.30am
to start at 9.45am. We will then
finish with lunch and a lab tour for
those interested at 13.30pm.
To reserve your place call 01902
749920 or email
[email protected].
Sam Fewings
Download the
NML app
The NML App was launched in a
previous newsletter. If you have
not yet done so, download it by
clicking one of the links below, or
by searching for NML
in your app store.
The app is a great way
to access your results
on the move. You just
log in with the same
details as the Phoenix website.
You can also order add tests on
the go for your producers. If you
haven’t got a phoenix login, or cant
remember your password email
[email protected] for
assistance.
Sam Fewings
Download
iPhone App
Download
Android App
antibiotic confirmation can be
reported.
Investigating
spring quality
challenges
Our parlour hygiene suite is a
great way to narrow down the
cause of a high bactoscan. The test
consists of coliforms, thermodurics,
psychrotrophs and a total viable
count.
The total viable count is a measure
of all the bacteria in the milk. If
this result is high you need to
check for bacteria from the udder,
environment, the plant and the
bulk tank.
If you have any concerns please
email Sam Fewings,
[email protected]
Sam Fewings
Latest figures
from NML:
Bactoscan
29
23
29
Fat
4.11
3.85
4.12
Protein
3.30
3.24
3.31
SCC
169
187
175
Transport
Delays
We are currently experiencing
delays on getting samples back to
the lab from our Yeovil depot. The
journey that includes a few pick
ups should take 3 3/4 to 4 hours
and leaves around 8pm, getting to
the lab around midnight.
Currently there are roadworks on
the M5 and M6 that are adding 45
to 60 minutes to the journey time.
In addition to this there are
frequent night time motorway
closures which delays the vans
even more. This means a
significant number of samples can
be getting into the lab as late as
2.30 a.m.
Assuming a sample is tested
immediately upon arrival, it will
be at least 8.30am before an
The cause of a high bactoscan can
be quickly identified using the
parlour hygiene suite. The testing
PAGE 3
January 2014
Psychrotrophs are bacteria that
are able to grow at refrigeration
temperatures. If a high level of
these are found it is recommended
that you check that the milk is
cooling properly and that the tank
is cleaned properly.
Sam Fewings
For this reason we have decided
not to change our routes and
collect samples earlier, but ask for
your understanding and patience.
June 2014
Thermodurics are bacteria that can
withstand high temperatures and
grow in dirty milking systems. A
high level of these is an indicator of
inadequate plant cleaning and it is
recommended that you check that
the wash water is reaching the
correct temperature and that the
correct concentration of wash
chemical is being used.
We have looked at the schedule for
the roadworks and many of them
are due to end before the end of
March.
January 2015
A high level of coliforms are a good
indicator of environmental
contamination, usually from poor
teat preparation. It is
recommended that you check plant
cleaning, and review the pre
milking teat preparation.
can be done on milk samples NML
already has in the fridge and
results will be available in 3 days.
The cost is just £25 per sample (ex
VAT) and to order either you or
your farmer can contact the NML
office on 01902 749920 or by
emailing
[email protected].
For more information on NML services, please visit our
website www.nationalmilklabs.co.uk or simply give us a
call on 01902 749920
Sam Fewings
Improving label
positioning
As many readers will be aware it is
important that barcode labels are
placed correctly on pots submitted
to the lab. This is because pots are
placed in sampling trays before
being passed by a barcode scanner.
The position of the scanner means
that the label must be placed
under the hinge of the lid (see
illustration).
If the label is not positioned
correctly, NML lab staff have to
remove the label and fix it on the
pot correctly.
NML fully understands that
sometimes labels will be fixed on
the pots by tanker drivers
incorrectly, but in recent months
the number of labelling issues that
the NML lab team has to address
has risen markedly. This causes
significant delays in the testing
process and has added to staffing
costs at the lab. NML is therefore
introducing systems to monitor the
number of labels that have to be
moved by client.
Clients will receive a
communication from NML if an
excessive number of labels have to
be moved by the lab team. This
communication will include
briefing notes for depots on how to
fix labels correctly. If problems
persist NML will need to apply
extra charges for ensuring labels
are placed on pots correctly. NML
wishes to avoid having to take this
action and therefore requests that
clients remind hauliers of correct
procedure for sticking labels on
pots. NML will be happy to provide
guidance notes on the protocol if
this will be helpful.
Ben Bartlett
Hall of shame!
Errors shown:
 Label not under hinge
 Incorrect label orientation
Other common errors:
 No day label
 Label at an angle
Correct barcode label positioning
Vertical labels
Horizontal labels
Perfect samples will:
 Have the label fixed
squarely and flat on
the pot
 Insufficient sample
 Incorrect pot
 Labels too near the bottom of
the pot
 Have the label fixed
so the lines of the
barcode run
horizontally
 Have the label fixed
under the hinge
 Have the barcode at
least 1 cm from the
bottom of the pot
 Have a day label
fixed to the lid
 Be filled to 1 cm
from the top
PAGE 4
NML, Laches Close, Calibre Industrial Park, Four Ashes, Wolverhampton, WV10 7DZ
NML, 32 Kelvin Avenue, Hillington Park, Glasgow, G52 4LT
[email protected]
01902 749920