Can I sell raw goat milk? |
| Yes. The Arkansas
Legislature passed Act 816 of 1995, which allow the sale of up to 100 gallons of raw goat
milk to be sold in a month. This is provided that the customer comes to the farm. Raw goat
milk can not be sold in a store or off the farm. |
|
What do I have to do to start a dairy
operation? |
You would need to contact
the Arkansas Milk Program at:
Arkansas Department of Health
Division of Environmental Health Services
Arkansas Milk Program
4815 West Markham -Slot 46
Little Rock, AR 72205-3768Phone: 501-661-2616
FAX: 501-661-2572
E-Mail: bclayton@office.doh.state.ar.us
You Milk Specialist will inspect the barn if it is an
existing building. Your Milk Specialist will tell you what it needs to meet the Grade
"A" Specifications and provide you with a copy of the specifications. You should
also contact the local Natural Conservation Resources Services (NCRS) (formerly the Soil
Conservation Service).The NCRS will help you develop an animal waste disposal plan. They
will work with you to get any permits from the Pollution Control and Ecology (P C &
E)that you may need. |
|
Can I buy or sell raw milk? |
| No-all milk must be
pasteurized except goat milk produced under Act 816 of 1995. Raw milk carries milk borne
disease germs. These germs are killed by pasteurization. |
|
What makes milk sour or go bad? |
| Heat Milk must be kept cool
40 degrees or less. Milk will grow bacteria and sour if it is allowed to get hot as in the
back seat of a car. Milk must also be kept clean and covered in the refrigerator. |
|
My laboratory report had a reading of
800,000 per milliliter for Somatic Cell Count. What does this mean? |
| Your cows probably have
mastitis. Mastitis is a disease of the udder in cows. Since it is a disease, you should
have a veterinarian check your herd and milking operation. Somatic Cells are cells in the milk found by counting the Somatic Cells in a
milliliter of milk. Somatic cells are leukocytes or white blood cell and other cells. It
is usually caused by the disease mastitis.
You may prevent mastitis by:
 |
Fencing all ponds and not letting
the cows stand in the water over the cows teats. |
|
Checking each quarter of your
cows udder every month with an approved cowside mastitis test (paddle test). This test
should identify any sick cows. |
|
You should contact your
veterinarian about treating all positive reacting cows. Your Veterinarian will be able to
identify the cause of the mastitis and prescribe the proper treatment. |
|
You Have your milking equipment
tested for proper vacuum and leak and make all necessary repairs. |
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