Our goal is to manage and operate Chalab Ez with cleanliness and sanitary conditions that will ensure a safe and healthy product.

Animal Facilities:

Goats will have shelters for inclement weather and shade. They will have clean water to drink during the day.

Dairy Facilities:

Milking area will be free of manure and swept regularly. The stanchion is wood and will be washed when needed.

Milk Handling Procedures:

Equipment:

Ø All multi-use containers and equipment, milking systems and other equipment in the handling, storage, bottling, or capping of raw milk or raw milk products shall be made of smooth, nonabsorbent, non-corrodible and non-toxic material, shall be fabricated and installed as to be easily cleaned, shall be self draining and kept in good repair.

Ø The milk pail will be washed after each milking with Dairy Soap or Liquid dish soap and left to air dry. An acid rinse and sanitized will also be used at times.

Milking:

Ø Milking will be performed by hand.

Ø The flanks and udders of all milking goats shall be free of visible dirt. All brushing shall be completed prior to milking.

Ø Teats are washed and dried to promote milk let down and udder health. Teats will be forestripped to check for clinical mastitis and abnormal milk.

Ø Goats with mastitis or abnormal milk will be milked last or separately to ensure no contamination of good milk. Abnormal milk will be discarded.

Milk Handling:

Ø Milk will be filtered before placement in containers for storage.

Ø Milk will be cooled to 45 degrees Fahrenheit within two hours of completion of herd milking and maintained at that temperature until retrieved by the owner.

Ø Distribution containers will be cleaned before filling.

Ø Distribution container filling and capping will be conducted in a sanitary manner.

Milk Testing:

Ø Milk shall be tested occasionally at this time.

Ø Milk for all lactating goats shall be commingled into a single sample for testing.

Ø Tests and limits:

o Standard Plate Count < 10,000 CFU/ml (test for all bacteria)

o Coliform < 50 CFU/ml (specific test for Coliform)

o Somatic Cell Count < 200,000 (basic cow and udder health)

Ø Non-compliance: