Planning Milk Collection

Well-adapted handling techniques for milk and dairy products are being practiced in most of the countries since long. Thus, under similar environmental conditions, a successfully adapted model of milk collection of some other countries, found economically sound and technically reliable, can be taken up cautiously; of course,if required, with certain modifications in light of local existing conditions and developing features. The ultimate aim of every collection system is to provide regularly “safe” milk for the processing units and/or the customers to meet their demand at economical cost. Important considerations are given here.

 

i. Climatic Conditions

Climatic conditions like temperature and humidity with sharp seasonal variations play an important role in planning a suitable milk collection system. The climatic conditions of a centre or area remain persistent which cannot be changed by human being at large. Milk collection structural requirements of a tropical country will be altogether different from that of cold one. High climatic temperature and humidity conditions are very much conducive for the growth of micro-organisms.Sharp seasonal variations also lead to unpredictable situation for an established collection system to compete. Special components are needed in such conditions to prevent milk spoilage. Usually, a chilling component needs to be installed at collection point, if not done at production point, to bring down the temperature of milk to below 40C within 4 hours of after milking. Therefore, a milk collection system must always be well adapted keeping in view the climatic conditions of the locality and region.

 

ii. Development Features

Planning of a collection system must be done in view of the actual stage of development which is subject to a change with the development of that locality and area. Development features include:

• Communication network,
• Availability of technical know-how for maintenance and replacement of equipment,
• Education and skill level,
• Purchasing power of a big segment of the population,
• Working and earning opportunities for the rural population,
• Basic amenities and infrastructure particularly transport.

 

 iii. Inherent Characteristics of Milk

Because of specific nature of milk, a collection system needs to:

• provide a suitable container (utensils, can, tank or tanker) to effect carriage,storage and process,
• give fair measure (volume or weight) for payment,
• test (platform, laboratory tests) for microbiological and chemical quality, including adulteration, to avoid spoilage,
• inhibit microbial development by speedy transit, refrigeration and processing.

 

iv. Size of Dairy Plant

Milk collections largely involve the provision of milk for handling only a few hundred kilograms, ranging from 1000 Kgs to 5,000 Kgs per day depending upon the availability of energy, water, equipment, technical and managerial know-how. If collection has to provide milk for rural processing units, several systems can be appropriate. The system should consider time gap between milking and chilling along with cost of these operations. Depending upon the potentiality of milk production, suitable capacity and size of reception and chilling facilities should be planned.

 

v. Density of Supply in the Milk-shed

If milk is supplied to large dairy plants over a long distance from the production site,a milk collection centres are established to collect sufficient milk to justify a call for lorry or tanker. Intermediate collection points are more likely to be required when milk has to be collected from a low-density production area at a long distance.Large collection center will supply more directly to the factory.

 

vi. Scattered and Scanty Milk Production

In rural India, milk production is largely a subsidiary activity to agriculture. Small farmers and landless labourers usually maintain one to three milch animals. As a result, small quantity of milk is produced. This situation makes the task of milk collection complex. A multi stage milk collection system is considered to be advantageous.

 

vii. Distance to Dairy Plant/Market

The rate, at which milk deteriorates in warm climate, excludes transport of milk over long distances. Where long transport of raw milk is unavoidable; speedy transit, refrigeration and processing is necessary to inhibit microbial spoilage. These may include a collection point, a first stage collection centre and an intermediate depot/ point to chill and bulk milk for onward dispatch by long distance tanker to a processing plant. Milk collection via such a multi stage collection system is naturally much more costly.

 

viii. Type of Products to be Manufactured

The marketing must take into account the perishable nature of the product. Immediate conversion, into more stable and marketable products, is the time-honoured solution.After processing, dairy products have always a much better keeping quality.

The quality of milk reaching dairy is a deciding factor for manufacturing a product.The collection structure is decided on the basic of types of products to be prepared in the dairy.