The Grading of Milk and Milk Products

PURPOSE: This rule provides standards which Grade “A” raw milk and milk products must meet. (1) Grades shall be based on the following standards, the grading of milk products being identical with the grading of milk, except that the bacterial count standards shall be doubled in the case of cream. The grade of milk product shall be that of the lowest grade of milk product used in its preparation. (A) Grade “A” raw milk is raw milk produced upon dairy farms conforming with all of the following items of sanitation. The bacterial plate count of the milk shall not exceed twenty thousand (20,000) per milliliter and not more than ten (10) coliform per milliliter as determined in accordance with 2 CSR 803.001. 1. Cow health. All herds and additions shall be tested and found free of tuberculosis before any milk is sold, and all herds shall be retested at least every twelve (12) months thereafter until accredited or certified by the United States Department of Agriculture as a tuberculosis-free herd. The tests and retests shall be made and any reactors disposed of, in accordance with the latest requirements approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for tuberculosis-free accredited herds, in effect at the time of the adoption of these regulations. A certificate identifying each animal signed by the veterinarian or attested to by the state authority, and filed as directed by the state authority, shall be evidence to the previously-mentioned test. A. All herds and additions shall be tested and found free of brucellosis before any milk is sold, and all herds shall be retested at least every twelve (12) months thereafter until accredited or certified by the United States Department of Agriculture as a brucellosis-free herd. Tests and retests shall be made, and any reactors disposed of in accordance with the latest requirements by the USDA, in effect at the time of the adoption of these rules. A certificate identifying each animal, signed by the veterinarian and the director of the laboratory making the test and filed as directed by the state authority, shall be evidence of the previous test. B. Cows which show a complete induration of one (1) quarter or extensive induration in one (1) or more quarters of the udder, upon physical examination whether secreting abnormal milk or not, shall be permanently excluded from the milking herd, provided that this shall not apply in the case of quarter that is completely dry. Cows giving bloody, stringy, or otherwise abnormal milk, but without entire or extensive induration of the udder, shall be excluded from the herd until reexamination shows that the milk has become normal. C. For other diseases, such tests and examinations as the state authority may require after consultation with state livestock sanitary officials shall be made at intervals and by methods prescribed by him/her, and any diseased animals or reactors shall be disposed of as s/he may require. AUTHORITY: section 196.939, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed June 20, 1973, effective June 30, 1973. Amended: Filed April 30, 2010, effective Nov. 30, 2010. Amended: Filed July 24, 2012, effective Jan. 30, 2013. Amended: Filed Nov. 6, 2020, effective May 30, 2021. *Original authority: 196.939, RSMo 1972, amended 1993, 1994, 1995.