SAINT-ELPHÈGE. Ferme Alaben in Saint-Elphège has won the title of Agropur Regional Milk Quality Champion. Only thirteen farms will receive this honor this year, out of 3,000 candidates.
This award is awarded after an assessment of milk quality over a period of twelve months, followed by an inspection of the milking environment. In 2021, the farm was also crowned Regional Milk Quality Champion.
Among the 13 regional champions, a Grand Champion, Milk Quality Prize and a Grand Champion, Animal Welfare Prize will be named next February at Agropur’s annual general meeting.
Jonathan Benoit, co-owner of Ferme Alaben, explains that it is the bacteria and somatic cells present in milk that vary the quality of the milk produced. “Bacteria can result from a contaminant or poor washing, for example. Somatic cells, on the other hand, are like an antibody that the cow produces. What we want is for the level to be as low as possible, explains Mr. Benoit. It’s easier for processing plants. If we do not respect the standards, there are penalties,” he adds.
How can such milk quality be achieved? “We work hard!” says Jonathan Benoit. It’s about being rigorous, having good techniques, being clean and being observant. » Mr. Benoit actually explains that several problems can be avoided by observation work upstream, in particular the health of the udder or the appearance of the milk at first glance. At Ferme Alaben, we also ensure the good health of the cows through a healthy diet and the cleanliness of the stall.
Reaching this level of quality is not only a great satisfaction for the Benoit family, but it also brings them bonuses on the price of milk. “However, it is rather the pride and pleasure of working with healthy animals that motivate me,” explains Mr. Benoit. It’s like any job, it’s more pleasant when the days aren’t full of problems to solve! It makes for a more pleasant working environment and brings satisfaction from a job well done. »
A family heritage
Founded by the Benoit family four generations ago, Ferme Alaben is today owned by Alain Benoit, Denise Lamy and their son Jonathan Benoit. Alain Benoit bought the farm from his father Roger in 1976, and a few years ago, Jonathan became a shareholder in the company. However, it is since the beginning of the 2000s that Jonathan Benoit has been officially involved in the company.
The farm has a herd of 120 lactating Holstein cows in free stalls. The semi-automatic milking parlor can milk 12 cows at a time, or six cows on each side. “It’s semi-automatic, because we install the milking machines, but it’s automatic removal. I prefer this system to robots, even if the workload is much higher, because I always have an eye on the cows. I can see if they are sick, if their paw hurts or if they are in heat,” he explains. Milking takes up four to five hours of Jonathan Benoit’s days. “It’s a way of working that has given me a lot of results.”
Jonathan Benoit is proud to have taken up the torch of this family heritage and to make it evolve. “It’s rewarding, and after working so hard, it doesn’t make you want to give up,” he says. At the time, his father pulled around thirty cows. Since then, they have acquired land around the farm as well as quota, in addition to working greatly to improve the quality of the milk and the health of the animals.
“I still find that I have a good cruising speed. We are still expanding slowly, because the quota is still difficult to acquire. However, quota is purchased every month, mentions Mr. Benoit. Land is also difficult to buy in the area, so if there is an opportunity, we will seize it! », he concludes.
