as Sandy Peaks Dairy Ltd.)

Q& A

1. What steps do you take to ensure consistent, high-quality milk production on your farm?

We keep standard operating procedures handy and in easy-to-understand terms so they are clear to everyone working on the farm.

2. What is the most important factor that influences milk quality on-farm?

The most important factor influencing our milk quality is consistent teat prep. We closely follow milk flows and milking times and make minor changes accordingly.

3. What is your message to consumers about the quality of Canadian milk?

As proud Canadian dairy farmers, it’s important to us to show our consumers that big barns are not just there to house a lot of cows but to give cows the comfort and room they need to be able to achieve high-production potential and to produce high-quality milk.

4. What does this award mean to you?

This award is a recognition of the work we do but more importantly, a confirmation and validation that the barn we designed and built back in 2018 works well and exceeding our expectations.

“The Slits family strives for continuous improvement in all areas of their dairy operation. Milk quality from their newest venture, a modern parlour/freestall facility, has been exemplary since start up. This facility is very well managed in all aspects; the animals are well cared for, the entire farm, especially the milking equipment, is always in show-ready condition and there is great attention paid to even the smallest details. The level of care that goes into maintaining a facility to this standard clearly shows the pride the Slits family has for the industry.”

—Heather McFarlane, FSR