Bio Foods rewards farmers with bonuses for high-quality milk

KENYA – Quality milk companies are increasingly rewarding farmers for producing milk with exceptional attributes, including high fat content, solid levels, and low bacterial counts.

Bio Foods, a leading dairy company, has taken the lead in this trend by offering substantial bonuses to farmers who meet stringent quality criteria.

Farmers can now receive between Sh58 and Sh65 per litre of milk, which is significantly higher than the usual Sh48-50 prices.

The bonus structure at Bio Foods is designed to incentivize superior milk quality based on Total Plate Count (TPC) values and the content of butterfat and protein.

Amos Maina, the quality team lead at Bio Foods, detailed the bonus system, which is based on the TPC values of the milk. For milk with a TPC count below 100,000, farmers receive an additional two shillings per litre. Further bonuses are awarded for higher butterfat and protein levels.

TPC measures the number of live bacteria in milk, which can increase due to factors such as unclean milking equipment, inadequate udder preparation, mastitis, or poor milk storage and cooling.

By targeting milk quality, Bio Foods aims to ensure the milk is both safe and high-grade, which helps in avoiding the issues associated with diluted or spoiled milk.

To support farmers in meeting these quality standards, Bio Foods is providing free antibiotic test kits. These kits enable farmers to test their milk before delivery to ensure it meets safety and quality benchmarks.

The Kenya Dairy Board emphasized that milk quality is determined by its composition—fat content, milk solids, and bacterial count. A high bacterial count indicates potential health risks and faster spoilage, making it crucial for farmers to adhere to stringent hygiene practices to maintain milk quality.

Bio Foods requires milk to have a TPC count below 400,000, far lower than the Kenya Bureau of Standards’ maximum allowable count of two million.

Additionally, the company assesses milk’s protein and butterfat content. Typically, milk from Friesian cows has about 3.6% butterfat, while milk from Jersey cows can reach up to 5%.

These levels are influenced by both the cow breed and its diet. Farmers are also encouraged to avoid feeding cows with aflatoxin-contaminated feed, as aflatoxins can transfer from feed into milk, compromising its safety.

Overall, Bio Foods’ approach not only promotes higher standards of milk quality but also offers farmers financial incentives to achieve these standards.

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