Manufacturing process

Harvest and processing

The manufacturing process starts with the harvesting of the Biestmilch. To keep its high quality the Biestmilch must be processed as freshly as possible. The basis for this is the green meadows, clear and clean water and healthy cows. New Zealand provides these requirements like hardly any other country on this planet.
The process of production begins with collection. So that the Biestmilch doesn't lose its quality, it has to be processed very fresh. 
The co-operative Fonterra, where we purchase our Biestmilch, has set up a nationwide logistics system that allows them to transport Biestmilch chilled and not deep frozen. Large tank lorries are driven over land 24 hours a day to collect the Biestmilch from farmers, whose cows have just calved.

Biestmilch powder is lactose and fat-reduced

Initially most of the fat is extracted from the Biestmilch. Approx. 2% residual fat remains in the Biestmilch. During the next procedural step the best part of the lactose is removed. A residual content of 5% to 7% remains. In principal, the processing into colostrum powder is effected in the same way as the processing of milk into milk powder. The remaining mass is dried by spray drying. Our Biestmilch products are manufactured from this colostrum powder.

Sterilisation

Biestmilch must be sterilized to meet the requirements of food products.

- Pasteurisation

Pasteurisation is a classical procedural step to render organic products sterile and non-perishable. This procedure is time-tested and standardised. Biestmilch from New Zealand is pasteurised briefly, i.e. heated to 70°C for 15 seconds.

- Chill filtration

Initially the Biestmilch is degreased, and decasinated and then made sterile and non-perishable by filtration. The result is a clear solution. Biestmilch drinking solution, organic certified is thus manufactured. It originates from cows from strictly biologically controlled animal keeping in Germany and Austria.

Like the principle of producing powdered milk

We make our Biestmilch products from colostrum powder. The principle of turning Biestmilch into Biestmilch powder is like that of turning milk into powdered milk. Powdered milk is a dry substance that is produced by extracting all of the free water. Full-fat milk contains 87.5% water. This is reduced to about 3% (unfree water) during production of the powder. About 6 to 7 liters of milk are needed to produce 1 kg of powdered milk.
Full-fat powder is made from full-fat milk by drying it. Before drying it, the substance is increased in vaporizing equipment. The final product contains about 26 percent fat, 25 percent protein and about 38 percent lactose.
Skimmed milk powder is made from skimmed milk by drying the manufactured dried milk product (rest water about 4 percent). Skimmed milk powder contains about 36 percent protein and 52 percent lactose.
Whey powder is made from whey powder. Whey is a by-product of cheese manufacturing. Whey can be sweet whey powder or sour whey powder. Whey powder contains about 11 percent high quality protein and 70 percent lactose.