An overview of FOSS solutions for raw milk quality testing used in laboratories worldwide. Highlights the current portfolio including BactoScan 5 and CombiFoss 7, demonstrating reliable measurement of a broad range of milk parameters with practical application examples. The presentation also covers innovations and advanced parameters that support improved herd management and milk quality, alongside how decades of experience, close collaboration with ICAR and IDF, and internationally recognised validation schemes such as MicroVal support robust quality assurance, calibration, data comparability, and long-term confidence in milk quality results.

The sector often calls for new innovations to improve sustainability, yet a major near-term opportunity lies in using existing milk recording tools far more effectively. This study investigates how the carbon footprint of milk production can be reduced by better utilising routine DHI indicators already available to most farmers. Analysis of test-day records from Denmark and Germany found that cows with elevated SCC produced 3-6 kg/day less milk - avoidable losses corresponding to approximately 60 t CO2e per 100,000 cows per day. Ketosis-risk cows showed clear yield penalties, and 20% of samples had elevated urea levels indicating protein oversupply. The results highlight a utilisation gap: efficient milk testing and data analysis systems already exist, but their decision-support potential is not fully realised. Bridging this gap offers an immediate pathway to more sustainable farming.