Dairy Effluent: Emergency Disposal of Milk on Farm
Note Number: AGO428
Published: June 1995
Updated: October 2008
Over time there is likely to be occasions when milk will have to be discarded due to a number of situations, such as refrigeration failure, a problem with milk collection from the factory, or contamination of the milk making it unsuitable for processing. The options for the disposal of milk on the farm without causing pollution, smell or damage to pasture are discussed below.
Introduction
Whilst the principles that need to be observed are common to all farms, each farm will have different constraints and opportunities that will influence the final decision as to the best option.
For example, the equipment available on the farm for applying the milk to pastures or available for digging trenches, the proximity of neighbouring houses and the farm house to the disposal site, the topography of the farm, the weather conditions at the time, the volume of milk involved, the possibility of selling the milk to neighbours with stock that could utilise the milk, the likely number of days milk will have to be disposed , are all factors that will need to be considered when deciding what the best option will be at the time.
Milk Disposal Methods
Feeding to livestock
Whole milk may be fed to animals where there are suitable storage facilities.
Discharging into effluent ponds
This is not a recommended option.
Effluent ponds that accept milk will produce odour, and a reduction in treatment efficiency. Ponds that have had large amounts of milk added will take many months to recover and severe odour problems will occur for many months to follow.
Spray irrigation
Tractor mounted sprayers, or dairy effluent irrigation systems can be used to spray milk onto pasture; milk should be diluted to a ratio of 1 part milk to 10 parts water; if sufficient water is not available, then the milk should be sprayed onto the pasture, followed by, whatever water is available or shed washings, to rinse milk residues off the leaves; sprinklers should be kept well clear of watercourses and should be moved after each irrigation.
Dedicated pond or trench
A trench or pond, capable of holding 2 days milk, can be constructed using a front-end loader, siting of these ponds should be well away from any houses and the farm dairy as odour may occur; the pond should be back filled immediately after the last discharge to reduce odour. Subsequent ponds or trenches should be dug if more than 2 days milk is to be disposed. These trenches should only be used in areas where suitable soils exist, other wise the trench may allow the waste milk to leach into the ground water or a stream system.
Sacrifice area
Milk can be dumped onto a piece of non-productive land clear of watercourses, houses and the farm dairy; pasture damage and odour can be expected and to minimise this, each dumping should be carried out on a different site, followed by flushing with water to wash the milk off the leaves.
The application of the milk to an area that is to be cultivated will be advantageous.
Pollution avoidance
Milk is approximately a 100 times more powerful a pollutant than dairy-shed effluent.
Discharging milk into watercourses has two major effects:
• all aquatic life is killed and,
• agricultural and domestic users downstream cannot use the water due to contamination by the milk and by the dead fish and vegetation.
The damage to streams is long term and therefore under no circumstances should watercourses be subjected to discharges of milk.
Legal obligation
Under the Environment Protection Act, 1970, milk must not be discharged into watercourses. Offenders may be prosecuted.
Acknowledgements
This Agnote was developed by Andrew Crocos, June 1995.
It was reviewed by: Andrew Crocos, June 2000.
Barrie Bradshaw, Farm Services Victoria, October 2008.
ISSN 1329-8062
Published and Authorised by:
Department of Primary Industries
1 Spring Street
Melbourne, Victoria
This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication
