At South Mountain Creamery, we do dairy differently! Our animals are raised from birth and cared for on the farm 24/7. SMC is a one-of-a-kind operation, allowing us to work from field to fork!
Step 1 - Cows Grazing
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| One of our ladies enjoying a sunny afternoon in the fields! |
In order for cows to produce milk – Cows have to eat…. And sleep. Cows usually spend about 8 hours grazing, 12-14
hours sleeping and ruminating or chewing their cud, and 2 hours milking. Our
cows get to graze in their pasture on our family farm. They graze in the morning after milking and
in the evening after milking, They get to relax and graze on grass. SMC cows eat
a nutrient balanced ration of grains and grass that are grown and harvested
right here at SMC. We raise our animals and grow and harvest our crops on six
farms totaling over 2,000 acres.
Step 2 – Harvesting Milk
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| Karen explains the milking process in the Milking Parlor. |
SMC cows are milked by hand two times each day at 1:30 am and 1:30 pm–
rain or shine, 365 days a year. We also have an operational robotic farm, where
our high producing cows can be milked up to six times per day! Milking time
takes about 5 minutes per cow. We have a double ten herringbone milking
machine, which allows us to milk 20 cows at one time. This reduces the amount of time the cows wait
to be milked. Nobody likes standing in line.
Milking machines mimic the action of a young calf by creating a
pulsating vacuum around the teat, which causes the milk to be released from the
udder. Join us in the afternoon and
watch the cows being milked in the milking parlor.
Step 3 – Storing Milk
The milk goes from the cow, through a pipe to our storage tank next
door. Milk is stored on farm at between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit until it is pumped to our on-farm production
facility. The milk in our storage vats is stirred constantly so it does not
separate.
Step 4 – Transporting Milk
Milk is pumped to our on-farm processing facility daily through stainless
steel pipes. We eliminate temperature
changes and transporting time because everything is done right here on the
farm.
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| SMC uses glass milk bottles instead of plastic. |
Step 5 – Processing Milk
Whole milk, once approved for use, is pumped into storage silos where
it undergoes pasteurization, homogenization and bottling.
Pasteurization:
Every particle of milk is heated to a specific temperature for a short period
of time to ensure all of our milk and ice cream are safe for human consumption.
We use a High Temperature/Short Time pasteurization process – or HTST. This
eliminates all bacteria that may be harmful to your health and ensures the
highest quality, best tasting milk. HTST
is more expensive than regular pasteurizing processes but this guarantees the
freshest and best tasting milk.
Homogenization:
The fat in milk naturally separates from the water and collects at the
top. Homogenization shrinks the cream globules and uses a screen to push and
shrink these cream globules. This process breaks the fat into tiny particles so
it no longer separates. The cream is
then suspended throughout the milk.
Bottling:
The milk is then put into our glass bottles. Glass bottles ensure that SMC milk is the
best tasting milk on the market. It’s
just one more way that you can taste the SMC difference.
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| Fresh milk. Delivered straight to your door! |
Step 6 – Delivering Milk
Then milk is sent off in our delivery trucks to be delivered to your
door! Our glass bottled milk is also available at our farm store. We also sell
milk to restaurants and specialty stores. SMC milk is the only milk that comes to you
straight from the cow to your door because we do everything right here on the
farm!
Learn more about the SMC Difference at www.southmountaincreamery.com!
