The awards recognise farmers who produce the nation’s best milk-based on bulk milk cell count (BMCC).
Farm operator Derek Sands said the school was thrilled with the result.
“When we started here four or five years ago, we had a cell count in the probably in the 300,000 and we now have a cell count under 100,000 on a year in year out basis.”
A focus on a low BMCC in milk production helps farmers prevent mastitis in their herd and can boost profitability, as producers are often paid a premium for qualifying milk by dairy processors.
Dairy Australia analysis has found that a farmer milking 300 cows who lowers their BMCC from 300,000 to 200,000 would be financially better off to the tune of $35,700 per year.
Mr Sands said they had been working and taking initiatives to lower the cell count.
“Every year we use dry cow and teat seal when we dry the cows off. We have a good milking practice in the dairy. The use of post teat disinfectant, so that’s teat spraying cows.
“Every three or four months we herd test, so we have individual cow data, so if a cow has a high cell count, we can monitor their cell count.”
Mr Sands said the award highlighted just how practical a school farm is.
“Everything we do here is what happens on a commercial farm, it’s certainly a smaller scale here, but everything we do here is what happens outside in the real world.
“Students get to experience that because not very many students these days come off farms. Most of them live in town, so this gives them a hands-on opportunity to see what happens on a farm.
Dairy Australia managing director Dr David Nation congratulated the 2019 winners.
“You can’t achieve an award like this without focus across the year on milk quality. For many farmers, it reflects dedication over many years to get to this level,” Dr Nation said.