Dairy
We work along side the dairy industries in New Zealand and Australia; helping customers meet the rising expectations of consumers worldwide and strict international standards. AsureQuality regularly audits food safety and inventory control processes to provide ongoing assurance to dairy customers of the programme's integrity. Our testing spans all segments of the supply chain, from raw milk and environmental samples through to the finished product.
Our range of services to the dairy industry includes:
Click here to download a flyer on AsureQuality's 'in process' dairy services
Blood Sampling Service for EBL and BVD
AsureQuality are able to test for Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) so your herd can achieve higher health status and ultimately better returns.
Calf Disbudding
Any farmer who is concerned about animal welfare, production, financial return and just the plain satisfaction of working with a heard of clean-headed cattle, knows the benefits of removing the horns at the calf stage. AsureQuality staff have for many years been promoting and servicing this practice. It is preferred that calves be disbudded at less than 6 weeks of age for ease of handling and as an animal welfare consideration.
Cattle Weighing
Progressive farmers often use growth rates and/or weight records to assist in identifying emerging health or feed quality problems. AsureQuality provides experienced stock handlers and electronic scales for cattle weighing. The results can be received as a printout or by email. Condition scoring can be done at the same time if required.
Condition Scoring
This service is provided by trained staff and provides a sound objective assessment of the condition of the herd.
Earmarks and Brands Registration
We provide a registration service that is backed by our integrity and quality systems with every effort made to ensure uniqueness. Registrations are valid for five years and cost $67.50 inc. GST.
Environmental Assessments
AsureQuality are able to carry out environmental assessments to investigate how best to tackle environmental issues.
Facial Eczema Monitoring
There are a number of management and prevention options available to counteract the risk of Facial Eczema, which is a potentially fatal disease that can attack the liver of sheep, goats, cattle and deer. AsureQuality offers a range of spore monitoring packages to aid in identifying the level of spores and consequent risk that a paddock may present.
Farm Assessment Programme
AsureQuality's Farm Network has the expertise to make your farm more profitable through improved efficiency and healthier livestock.
On-Farm Quality Management Programmes for Milk Producers cover four main areas:
1. Checking of farm cleaning systems
2. Solving milk quality problems
3. Identifying animal health problems
4. Identifying record keeping deficiencies
Farm Dairy Approvals
AsureQuality performs pre-start assessments to ensure your dairy farm has been properly set-up, from assessing the initial site for construction, monitoring the dairy building process, to final sign-off and ensuring equipment has been properly fitted.
Farm-Dairy Assessment
AsureQuality conducts an annual Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) assessment on every dairy farm in the lower North Island and upper South Island to ensure minimum standards in dairy-plant hygiene; general presentation and milk quality are met.
Grade Trace-backs
AsureQuality works alongside farmers to fix the problems associated with poor milk quality.
Inhibitory Substance Trace-backs
When a milk test is positive to an inhibitory substance, AsureQuality is able to audit dairy systems and records to find out the cause of the contamination and how it can be prevented from reoccurring.
Milk Component Audits
Dairy Companies contract AsureQuality to randomly select farms and test the make-up of milk samples to ensure the dairy farmer is being paid fairly.
Milk Machine Efficiency Tests
To minimise any loss of production or milk quality defects through teat damage or mastitis, it is recommended that the milking plant be tested at least annually. We can provide independent and accurate assessments of milking plant efficiency. Any minor faults will be corrected and rechecked during the test. A comprehensive report detailing performance and recommendations is provided.
On-Farm Quality Management
Auditing of minimum standards set by dairy companies is a role performed by AsureQuality, in particular for the control of animal health treatments and monitoring of hygiene and cleanliness.
Sire Proving, Weighing and DNA Sampling
This service is used by artificial breeding companies for verifying parentage in Sire Proving herds. Cattle are weighed and blood tested.
Soil DDT Sampling
AsureQuality can provide soil DDT testing in the South Island, as a condition to dairy conversion and approval to supply. This service is provided for any farmer but predominantly is utilised by those farmers converting farms to Dairy operations or for Dairy grazing. The determined DDT levels will indicate the suitability of the land for the intended enterprise.
Tanker Road Assessments
Tankers are crucial to the dairy industry and it's therefore important that dairy farms have adequate roads and bridges. AsureQuality is able to assess your dairy farm for tanker safety.
Testing of Suspected Milk Contamination
If a dairy farmer suspects milk has been contaminated by antibiotics, AsureQuality is able to conduct rapid detection tests to confirm whether contamination has occurred.
Risk Management Programme Evalution
AsureQuality has NZFSA-approved evaluators to carry out evaluations on a Company’s Risk Management Programme, when required to do so. An evaluation may be required as a consequence of a significant change to the RMP, processors and scope. A full report is provided to the Company on conclusion of the evaluation outlining non-conformances [if any] along with the corrective action time lines and final close out.
Note: An RMP evaluation will normally consist of a desk top assessment however the evaluator may be required to carry out on site activities in order to complete the evaluation.
Risk Management Programme Verification
AsureQuality has NZFSA-approved verifiers to carry out an on-site verification of the Risk Management Programme and associated supporting activities as those listed below. The verification assessment will determine if the Risk Management Programme is operating effectively, by reviewing records and observing activities as per the Company’s procedures (previously evaluated). Activities covered include:
- Operation of farm dairies [RMP]
- Storage of raw milk and/or dairy raw materials
- Transport of raw milk and/or dairy materials
- Manufacture of dairy products e.g. Cheese, Milk Powders, Butter
- Storage of dairy products and ingredients
- Independent Verification Programme
- Transport of dairy ingredients and product
- Pest Programme verification
- Pathogen Programme verification
Where the verification identifies any deviations to the regulatory requirements, non-conformances will be issued and discussed with the RMP accountable person, or management representative, for action and resolution, within the negotiated time frames.
Note: The verification of an approved Risk Management Programme will include verification of the pest and pathogen management programmes superseding what was previously known as the pest and pathogen management programme validations.
Heat Treatment Evaluation / Verification
AsureQuality has NZFSA approved heat treatment evaluators / verifiers to carry out an annual on site heat treatment evaluation [for new or significantly changed equipment] and verification. This is now a requirement following the introduction of the Animal Products Act. Heat treatment verification is an annual requirement and includes the minimum checks required as per NZFSA guidelines.
Note: Heat treatment validations are now an internal Company activity. The scope of validation activity is to be defined by NZFSA guidelines.
Reporting - Routine Monthly RMP Status Reports and IVP Monitoring
AsureQuality, in providing recognised agency services, is required to process routine monthly RMP status reports. These reports are to provide information on the status, performance, trends, proposed changes and other information about a Company in respect to product safety and risk management.
Regular reports are supplied at the beginning of the month to AsureQuality who is then required to forward a consolidated report to the NZFSA by the 14th day of each month in order to meet the requirements of an approved recognised agency.
Reporting - Exceptions and Dispositions
AsureQuality, as the recognised agency, is required to receive critical non-conformances and / or non-conforming product exception reports from a Company within 24 hours. AsureQuality will acknowledge the receipt of any exceptions, report back to the Company either by phone or email. AsureQuality, as a recognised agency, is required to forward all exceptions reports to the NZFSA within 24 hours following notification.
The handling of exceptions and dispositions will be based on an as per event basis and invoiced separately.
EU Load Out Checks
As required by NZFSA Load out checks are to be carried out on 2% of all exports to the EU. Notification is to be sent to the Recognised Agency as early as practical prior to loadout occurring.
As it is difficult to determine the number of loadouts requiring this check, this service is invoiced on a case-by-case basis.
Engineering - Project Evaluations
AsureQuality has NZFSA recognised premises evaluators to evaluate any significant changes effecting buildings, plant and equipment for the purposes of gaining NZFSA approval, and for risk management programme requirements.
Because of the varied nature of this work pricing will be on a case-by-case basis following agreement on price and scope between the Company and AsureQuality.
Independent Sampling Services
As part of a Risk Management Plan for Manufacturers, an Independent Verification Programme is required where an independent sampler completes sampling as per the programme. AsureQuality has independent, suitably qualified staff throughout New Zealand who are able to offer this service.
Good Manufacturing Practice
AsureQuality has experienced staff who are able to assess manufacturing / storage areas against standards for Good Manufacturing Practice.
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