DairyPost Africa • May 2014
27
Milk Collection Centers
Raw milk with low TPC is a key
ingredient for dairy processors to be
able to produce a safe and wholesome
consumer product complying to
customer demands
E
merging dairy countries are in the
process of stimulating and enhancing
local raw milk production chain activities.
Next to proper handling procedures, a cold
chain is required to secure the raw milk
quality of collected milk and contribute to
the realization of low TPC milk. Raw milk
should therefore be centrally collected,
within 2-3 hours after milking cooled to 4°C
and stored under conditioned circumstances.
This explains the increase of milk collection
centers in emerging dairy countries, mainly
stimulated and realized by farmers coops,
(local) milk processors, government and nongovernmental organizations.
Small scale milk suppliers
Milk collection centers can play an
important role in the transition period from
small scale individual household farmer,
towards a commercial dairy family farmer,
till a large scale farmer equipped with
its own milk cooling tank. The collection
points are often set up in conditions that
are far from optimal. Power fluctuations,
poor water supply and limited access for
the milk truck are often encountered.
Installation and service require adaptation
to local situations and should be handled
by a well-trained local staff of dealers or
partner companies.
Furthermore it is essential that the cooling
tanks are designed to handle daily milk
collection and are therefore capable of
cooling larger quantities of milk in short
time. This in contrary to the situation in
Europe, where milk is collected over several
days requiring its own cool technical design.
Features
Although when only limited quantities of milk
(< 1000 l/day) are (daily) collected, in remote
areas, a small manual operated and cleaned
cooling tank is sometimes used. However, for
milk quality consideration, it is preferable to
establish sustainable milk collection points
with closed tanks. These collection points are
transportable by container, skid mounted,
and equipped with:
• An automatic cleaning system
• Hot water supply (boiler)
• Parts made of stainless steel
• Single or double units
• New or used milk tanks
• An integrated milk transfer pump for milk
transfer to the milk truck
Next to hardware, the availability of a local
capable and trained service organization
is essential to secure the collection point
equipment operation and thus a cold chain.
Worldwide experience
Mueller has a wide experience in setting up
milk collection centers in Asia, Africa and
eastern Europe. The company can assist,
in cooperation with its well-trained local
distributors, in: cold chain design, location