sdas
Our milk pool is approved by Bord Bia’s Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS), a national, independently accredited sustainability and quality assurance scheme that demonstrates the quality and sustainability of our dairy produce right back to the farm where the milk is produced. On-farm dairy audits support our priorities in traceability, environment, biodiversity, animal health and welfare.
The Bord Bia Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) was launched by Bord Bia in December 2013 with the support of the Irish Dairy Industry. It has been developed in response to the demands of the marketplace; increasingly purchasers of Irish dairy products are requiring proof that the milk is produced sustainably on farms. It has been designed to assist in securing new and existing markets for dairy produce. The scheme ensures that the farmer’s milk production processes are assessed to ensure that they meet the highest Bord Bia standards.
In addition the scheme has also been designed to assess and record sustainability data that can be used to demonstrate improvements at individual farm level, therefore providing the necessary proof to customers of dairy products that milk has been produced under both Sustainability and Quality Assurance criteria.
Preparation for SDAS
The following table is a reminder of the 10 most common items to be aware of when preparing for the SDAS audit.
Water Test | A water test report must be available |
Farm Sign | Farm sign must be present in a prominent location |
Medicine Records | Records must be updated back to previous Bord Bia audit |
Farm Safety Statement | Farm Safety booklet must be maintained regularly |
Bovine Herd Register | Herd register can be completed in “Blue Book” or online |
Feed Purchase Dockets | Feed purchase dockets must be provided for the audit |
Dairy | Fully sealed to ensure vermin proof, eg. doors, no openings in walls |
Milking Parlour | Milking equipment should be clean and all surfaces reasonably clean |
Farm Hazards | Open slurry pits must be properly fenced off, guards on PTO shafts |
Milk Dockets | Milk collection dockets and milk quality results (SCC, TBC, etc.) |
For the full SDAS Inspection Preparation Checklist, follow the link below
For more information on SDAS, click on the link below
get in touch
If you need help or advice in relation to any aspects of the scheme, please contact a member of the milk quality advisory team