primary processing of milk

• dairy cows need to have given birth to cows before they can start producing milk
• cows are then milked every morning and evening to keep the production going
• most cows can produce milk for about 3 years before being slaughtered for their meat
• cows graze on outdoor pasture where they eat grass, except in winter when they will be housed in sheds and fed on grass silage, maize and special cattle food
• cows must be milked daily
• a dairy cow produces on average, 20 litres a day
• the milk is collected and stored in holding tanks before being taken to the milk processing plant
• all cattle herds are routinely and regularly tested to ensure they are free from diseases such as tuberculosis