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The National Mastitis Council recognized the farms during its 58th annual meeting.

February 7, 2019

2 Min Read
closeup of Holstein head
TOP QUALITY: The National Mastitis Council honored 41 dairy farms with awards recognizing high quality milk. Two Minnesota farms were among those who received recognition.

Two Minnesota dairy farms were recognized Feb. 1 by the National Mastitis Council for having high-quality milk production.

A total of 41 dairy farms received NMC’s National Dairy Quality Awards during the organization’s awards luncheon, which was held in conjunction with its 58th annual meeting in Savannah, Ga.

Among the six platinum winners was Minnesota dairy farm RKB Dairy, owned by Randy and Kathleen Bauer, Faribault. Other platinum winners were from Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Among the 18 gold award winners was Selke Farms, owned by Walter and William Selke, Dakota.

Seventeen silver award winners were given, too.

The winning farms were selected from 165 applications submitted for the 2018 awards. Farms were nominated by professionals, such as dairy plant field staff, veterinarians, extension specialists and Dairy Herd Improvement Association supervisors, who serve the dairy industry.

NDQA judges considered many criteria when reviewing finalists’ applications. In addition to milk quality indicators, such as somatic cell count and standard plate count, judges looked at specific details about each operation, including milking routine, cow comfort, udder health monitoring programs, treatment and prevention programs, strategies for overall herd health and welfare, and adherence to drug use and recordkeeping regulations.

This year’s NDQA sponsors included Boehringer Ingelheim, Acumen Detection, GEA, Ecolab, IBA Inc., QualiTru Sampling Systems, Hoard's Dairyman and NMC.

This summer, nominee information for the 2019 NDQA program will be available on the NMC website and in Hoard’s Dairyman magazine.

NMC is an international professional organization, based in New Prague, Minn., devoted to reducing mastitis and enhancing milk quality. NMC promotes research and provides information to the dairy industry on udder health, milking management, milk quality and milk safety. Founded in 1961, NMC has about 1,000 members in more than 40 countries throughout the world.

Source: NMC, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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