STRZELECKI dairy farmers Neil and Vicki Smith were nervous in the lead up to this year's Milk Quality Awards.
They had 19 consecutive awards and desperately wanted a 20th.
- READ MORE THIS WEEK
- Victoria tops for milk quality
- Success is a family affair
A "blow-out" in their 180-head herd last July threatened to disrupt their perfect record.
The Fonterra suppliers' bulk milk cell count this year rose up to about 170,000 cells/ml in July and resulted in a "disappointing" 88,000 cells/ml season average.
The Smiths like to average 70,000 cells/ml or less.
The blow-out culprit was "a very contagious hard-to-find mastitis", said Neil. "It was in the left-hand back quarter. By the time we found the quarter, another one had it."
The couple had to sell six animals, but they got the infection under control and now boast two decades worth of Milk Quality Awards.
Milk quality is a high priority for the Smiths. They mix their own teat-spray, adding additional glycerine for teat condition, and apply it generously. When all the cows are milking, the couple uses up to 70 litres a week.
Neil says teat condition is 90 per cent of milk quality. "The care-factor must be high," says Vicki.
BEST OF THE BEST
- GIPPSLAND
- Ron & Anne Barton
- Tim & Kerryn Carney
- Robert & Denise Clench
- Judy Grant
- Jim & Heather Harvey
- Bruce & Lynda Heywood
- Peter & David Jeffries
- Barry & Trisha Kersten
- Anthony & Kathryn Lalor
- Thomas & Kerry Macaulay, Dean & Tanya Capes
- Manora Foods
- Peter & Eunice Martin, Craig & Teresa Hanrahan
- Ken & Tahne May
- Brian & Michelle Moore
- Rodney & Gayloe Moss
- Rocco & Wendy Murdica
- Jan Parker
- Charlie & Janice Pinch
- Danny Scott
- Neil & Vicki Smith
- Phil Stammers
- Noel & Barbara Tonkin
- NSW
- Frank & Carol Condon
- Stephen Heffernan
- John Keys
- Donald Warner
- Jack & Helen Wright Northern Victoria
- Rob & Jill Beecroft
- Arthur & Jennifer Bradley
- Stu & Jill Cameron
- Cos & Rosie Cavallaro
- Laurie & Colin Cormican
- Mario & Nancy, Paul & Matthew Demase
- Rob Fisher, Shirley Ross
- Peter & Fay Hansen
- Jeff Harrower
- Bruce & Jane McNaughton
- Gordon, Frances & Leigh Paton
- Stephen & Lynda Quast
- Keith & Cheryl Robertson
- Ian, Cathy & Richard Simpson
- Michael Wearden
- Ian & Deirdre Williams
- QUEENSLAND
- Colin & Sheryl Norgaard
- Noel, Fay & Grant, Kylie Wieck
- Dallas, Glen, Adrian & Melvyn Zischke
- SOUTH AUSTRALIA
- Arthur Crompton
- Graham, Trevor, Kevin & Laurel Golding
- Graham Hall
- Kim Pocock, Angela Yeates
- TASMANIA
- Kelvin Burgess
- Joe & Julie, Andrew & Elizabeth Clippingdale
- Ronny, Penny & Danny Fenton
- Len & Loretta Goss
- Ray & Veronica Jedyn
- Brian Margetts
- Norris, Barbara & Martin Nailer
- Leigh & Kellie Schuuring
- Adam & Matthew Wickham
- WESTERN AUSTRALIA
- Dean Barbetti
- Joe & Lila Brooks
- Luke Fitzpatrick
- Harold, Joan & Bevan Harrison
- Paul Ieraci
- Fred Knight
- Ben Letchford
- Graeme Manning
- Rodney & Nicole May
- Richard Moody
- Rodney Oates
- John Parravicini
- Warwick & Lindsay Rose
- Jenny Trigwell
- Ross Woodhouse
- WESTERN VICTORIA
- Bob & Sharon Atwell
- Phil & Jenny Ayres
- Barry & Valerie Baulch
- Trevor & Carolyn Beasley
- Andrew & Donna Bellis
- Michael & Marcia Clover
- Phil & Robyn Couch, Paul & Michelle Fowler
- Les & Lois Daff
- Greg Ferrari
- Paul & Karen Finlayson
- John Gall, Mick Ryan
- Rob & Helen Greive
- Wayne & Jenny Howlett
- Mac & Deb Jones
- Anthony Kavanagh
- James & Michelle Kerr
- Andrew & Joanne Kerr
- Noel & Marlene Lenehan
- John Madden
- Derek & Lynne Marr
- John & Jody Martin
- Darren & Camilla Moloney
- Robert, Teresa & Rachel Morey
- Mick Nolan
- Dick & Lynette Pender
- Arthur & Christine Peters
- Graeme & Robyn Pleming
- Colin & Annette Price
- Craig & Annette Smart
- Tim Taylor
