Foss 605/360 “combi” unit is state-of-the-art testing equipment in the central milk
testing lab.
(Continued from Page D 9) sam Pl e tested causes the
machine to give an error message
outweighs that of speed. After all, to the operator, and the machine
it matters little how quickly we get automatically goes into standby
samples tested, if the results are mode until the problem is cor
net accurate. reeled. This ensures that if a prob-
State of The Art Equipment lem occurs in a machine, that no
Enhances Quality more samples are tested on it until
Since 1986, with quality in the problem is resolved,
mind, the PA DHIA Board has An added plus to the new equip
been investing in new equipment ment is speed. Our old equipment
which has replaced machines 12 was able to test about 175 to 200
to 15 years old. The equipment samples per hour. The new equip
used in your DHIA laboratory ment, however, tests 275 to 300
today is the best currently avail- samples per hour. And once a new
able to the market. This equipment data capture system is put in place
is not inexpensive by any means, in 1991, the speed should increase
but is highly specialized, and very even further. This efficiency has
accurate. Each “station”, consist- allowed the lab to go from 16 full
ing of a fat and protein tester, a time operators 5 years ago to only
somatic cell counter and a data 11 at this time. The reduction in
controller (computer) costs personnel cost is a savings our
approximately $190,000. There members realize every day. Addi
are four of these stations in the tionally, most samples, with the
laboratory, as well as one station exception of those received on
of older equipment which is used Saturday, are tested within 36
primarily for backup purposes. hours of arrival at the laboratory,
This state of the art equipment keeping turnaround time low.
contains an internal error handling National DHIA’s Q.C.
system, which means high quality
results to our members. Anything
that happens within the equipment
that will affect the result of the
Board Meeting Summaries
(Continued from Page D 9)
5. A personnel staffing plan for
Fiscal Year 1991 was approved
that increases the permanent staff
authorized from 55 to 56. One
clerk will be added in the financial
area.
6. An overall rate increase for
services was approved effective
1/1/91. New rates will reflect a
$.07 increase per cow per month
across all service programs, with
an additional $.Ol for each sample
transported to the laboratory each
month. These changes include
$.025 per cow per month to build
cash reserves and $.Ol per cow per
month to set aside for a facility
expansion at an unspecified time
in the future.
A 1991 Fiscal Year budget of
$3,831,867 was approved with a
positive margin of $106,729.
7. A capital investment budget
of $390,000 was approved for Fis
cal Year 1991. Major items
planned for purchase include a
production size laser printer for
daily reports, four additional disk
drives for on-line information
storage, and replacements for
three autos and one sample truck,
equipment, testing relatives under
official NCDHIP rule #2 and
releasing member lists for cattle
sales were adopted. (Copies of all
policies are available at the Ser
vice Center).
8. New policies dealing with
the purchase of member-owned
£23
-Hr
m
Program Is A “Quality Asset”
Far and away the biggest asset
we have toward quality results,
however, is our participation in
9. A new application for mem
bership tor direct members was
adopted.
10. Approval was given to pro
ceed with the development of a
biotechnology evaluator project
funded by PA DHIA, Monsanto
and the Ben Franklin Technology
Development Fund. This one-year
project led by Dr. Bill Heald at
Penn State, will attempt to deve
lop a reporting system that will
allow DHIA members to deter
mine when to use new technolo
gies and on which cows (e.g.
BST), and to evaluate if its use has
increased a member’s profits.
11. Approval was given to
extend credit to DHIA Services
for a total of $37,500. This loan,
together with an identical sum
from Northeast DHIA, and a com
mercial bank loan will provide the
start-up funds needed for DHIA
Services to become a dealer for
Tru-Test milk meters.
12. A project proposal from Dr.
David Galligan at New Bolton
Center called the “Incremental
305” was endorsed. This action is
in preparation for a written
memorandum of understanding
for cooperation with New Bolton
Center.
13. A decision was made to
support the Pennsylvania Young
Farmers’ Convention in State Col
lege in February, 1991. The asso
ciation will sponsor a table and
provide an information session on
DHIA.
the NDHIA Quality Certification
program. Nowhere is this program
more stringent in its regulations
than in the laboratory area. DHIA
members nationwide can rest
assured that if their DHIA lab pas
ses the annual QC evaluation that
it is in fact a quality operation. A
comparison between NDHIA QC
acceptable standards and those
required by the milk marketing
board in PA (licensing for pay
ment purposes) indicates this as
well. In virtually all areas, NDHI-
A QC requirements are more
stringent than those required for
licensing a laboratory for
payment.
Our Quality Control Specialist
works full time in the area of
laboratory quality. It is her job to
DHIA Calendar
Of Events
(Continued from Page D 9)
Kehruan 13
Southwest District Association
meeting, Ramada Inn, Some
Northeast District Association
meeting. Elk’s Club, Towanda,
Pa. DHIA annual meeting and
Northwest District Association
meeting, Days Inn, State Col
legejPajjooiMj^ioon^^^
County dairy agents in-service
dinner sponsored by Pa. DHIA,
State College, Pa., 6 p.m.-9
p.m.
N.E. Region Supervisors’ Confer
ence, Wysox Fire Hall, 1 p.m.-6
p.m.
S.E. Lancaster area Supervisors’
Conference, Yoder’s, New
S.E. Region Supervisors’ Confer
ence, Embers, Carlisle, Pa., 9
N.W. Region Supervisors’ Confer
ence, Clipper, Clarion, Pa., 1
ence, location to be announced,
National DHIA Convention and
Trade Show, Northeast Caucus
rneetingjJ&iltiinore^Md^^^
Pa. DHIA board meeting. Holiday
Inn, State College, noon to
noon.
Memorial Day, Service Center
closed.
Laboratory Services
**» J
■
“First of its kind,” liquid bromopal dispenser operated by
Lisa Yearick.
ensure that all laboratory require
ments are met through the NDHIA
Q.C. program. Her responsibilities
in this area include running week
ly calibrations and monthly
unknowns on every piece of
equipment in the laboratory.
Within the calibration program we
are required to keep fat and pro
tein machines within 0.05 of the
chemical reference test. In other
words, if the calibration test is
supposed to run 4.35% fat and
3.21% protein, it must run
between 4.30 and 4.40% fat, and
3.16% and 3.26% protein. Soma
tic cell counters must be within
15% of the microscope reading.
The calibration samples are pur
chased weekly from an NDHIA
approved sample supplier.
In addition to weekly calibra
tions, the monthly unknown prog
ram monitors the performance of
all DHIA machines nationally.
The samples arrive at the lab with
no chemical results, they are run
on all equipment, and the results
called in to the sample supplier.
Only after the results have been
called in will the chemical results
be given out for comparison.
National DHIA then receives the
data from each laboratory direedy
from the sample suppliers. Stan
dards for unknown week are the
same as those for weekly calibra
tions, 0.05 for fat and protein and
15% for SCC.
Between weekly calibrations,
we run hourly check tests on all
equipment to ensure that there is
no drift in calibration. This means
that for every hour a machine is
Welcome New Members
Geka Hill Farm
Rainbow Acres Farm
Gene C Mortimer
Ziggy Farms
Stacey Marshall
Douglas Fiely
Charles Mook
Tiaro Holstems
Robert Margaret Smith
Edward Newswanger
Leroy Riehl
Dandi Willow Acres
Akenys Acres
Twin S Farm
Hallow Pine Farm
John Piwowar
Clinton W Benedict
Lin Low Farm
Kenneth M Run
Jacob S King
David M Beiler
John R Zimmerman
John O Yoder
Leland Marshall
Allen Nolt & Son
Jonas L Zook
Robert Shine
Roger Wolfe
Ronald A Heimbach
Jack & Ken Snyder
Mike & Cheryl Wesneski
David Fava
Leon R Newswanger
Nelson B Weaver
J+C Acres
Grant Weston
Dawn Rise Dairy
Lancaster Farming Saturday, December 15,1990-011
run, we run a sample with a
known value of the machine. If it
is not within 0.05 (or 15% for
SCC testers) of the known value,
the equipment is not run until the
technician finds and corrects the
problem causing the discrepancy.
Hourly check tests also help us
when a call comes in regarding a
member’s test results. We keep
records as to what date and lime a
herd is run, as well as results for
all check tests. This enables us to
look up when a herd was run, and
find out what the check tests were
testing before and after the herd
was run.
Another quality check we do
retests. Samples that run under 2”
or over 7% fat (and under 2% or
over 6% protein) are retested,
either on the same machine or
another machine in the laboratory.
In this way we can ensure that
samples which are out of the “nor
mal” range for cows are actually
correct. Since there is no “normal”
SCC Range for cows, we watch
for trends. For example, if a herd
has several cows running over
1,000,000 on SCC, or if most of
the herd is under 100,000 we will
spot check the samples, retesting
them to ensure the results.
Overall, the laboratory employ
ees strive for excellence in accura
cy and speed. We try very hard to
ensure that we are delivering qual
ity service at a reasonable cost.
We feel we are accomplishing that
goal. Your visits and comments on
our services are always welcome.
Joel B King
Freedom Valley Farm
Stacey Marshall
Gideon L Miller
Amazing Grace Dairy
Steven P Kline
Richard Giewont
Greene Summit Farm
Tim Smith
Edward Burnworth
White Mar Farm
Lin Low Farm
M Joseph Reese
Christmans Dairy
Randy+Mane Shaffer
John N Shirk
Wilmer S Stoltzfus
Buffum Brook Farm
Levi G Lapp Jr
Reuben K Fisher
Robert D Huss
W William Sapala
Ed + Wilma McMillen
Samuel R Beiler
Robert Insmger
George M Payne
Lyle Sherman
B&T Dairy
Doug+Joanne Wesneski
Harold G Nolt
Yates Vue Gold Arch
Sweet Pea Jerseys
Adam + Becky Derr
Luke H Hege
Roy E Bowser
Calhoun Jersey
Barnes Brothers
m
Donald G Hoover
Little Pond Farm
Ray+Janet MacWhinme
Amos K Lapp
Lowell S Martin
Isaac L Fisher
Rhoads Green Valley
Benjamin K Stoltzfus
Darlene Gothard
Gary Monan
J G Reasner
Robert Bedow
Greg Lint
J T Miller
Willow Creek Farm
Breezyvalley
Lester Wmgert
Swope View Leo Jr
Kevm/Holly Plummer
Philip Horst
Moses K Click
Randy Blaisure
Frantz Hill Farm
Ar View Farm
Dare E Land
John Brenneman
Wilmer A Yoder
Mud Hollow Farm
Job & Tracie Shipsky
Scott & Lisa Bush
Bob Dianne Bechtel
Ed L Bartlett
Melvin R Oberholcer
James M Reiff
Wendy Hill Farm
Mike Hardier
Miller Mt Farm