Australian Milk Quality Awards

Dairy Australia’s Milk Quality Awards recognise farms across Australia with an annual average bulk milk cell count (BMCC) in the lowest 5% during the financial year (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022).

The awards have been running since 2002 with the goal of celebrating and bringing industry recognition to the highest quality milk producers across Australia.

To be eligible, dairy farms must have BMCC data for a minimum of nine months which is then supplied by their processor to Dairy Australia. BMCC results for each collection are then used to calculate the annual average BMCC for each farm and the winners are the top 5% of farms with the lowest BMCC.

The top 100 farms in the list with the lowest BMCC each receive a gold plaque for their farm gate and all others farms in the top 5% receive a silver plaque.

The Awards enable the industry to celebrate success. It is a great collaboration between dairy companies and Dairy Australia's Countdown program.

2022 Milk Quality Award winners

The 2022 winners of Dairy Australia’s Milk Quality Awards have been announced, showcasing dairy farmers in the top five per cent nationwide for milk quality, based on bulk milk cell count (BMCC).

The Milk Quality Awards show Aussie farmers are continuing to deliver high-quality milk and safeguarding the health of their animals.

Dairy Australia is continuing to support farmers to build the skills of their people on-farm, improve their milk quality and prevent udder infections through world-renowned animal health programs such as Countdown and training courses such as Countdown MQ and Milking and Mastitis Management (CoCo 2.0).

Dairy farmers can access milk quality resources and training programs by contacting their local Dairy Australia’s regional team.

Data for the awards is generously provided annually by farms’ milk processors.

Dairy Australia gratefully acknowledges the following processors for provision of data for the awards:

AC Milk
Australian Dairy Farmers Cooperative
Bega Cheese
Beston Global Foods
Brownes Dairy
Bulla Dairy Foods
Burra Foods
Cadbury (Mondelez)
Coles
Fleurieu Milk Company
Fonterra Australia
Kyvalley Dairy Group
La Casa Del Formaggio
Lactalis Australia
Norco
Noumi
Richmond Dairies
Riverina Fresh Pty ltd
Saputo Dairy Australia
SW Dairy
Union Dairy Company

Every effort has been made to ensure farm names and regions are listed correctly. For any corrections, please contact Dairy Australia.

Winners are notified by e-mail, and gold and silver plaques will be distributed by each Dairy Australia regional team. If you have not yet received your plaque, please contact your local regional team..

Milk processors wanting to participate in the 2023 Australian Milk Quality Awards should contact countdown@dairyaustralia.com.au.