Quality-Based Milk Pricing for Cheese Factory Suppliers
Milk is not all equal: a litre with 4% fat and 3.4% protein gives more cheese than a litre with 3.2% and 3.0%. Paying one price rewards the weak supplier and loses the good one. In Lebnara you set a clear formula, and the software prices each delivery automatically from its analysis and issues a statement for each supplier.
The formula
Price per litre = base price + (fat difference from reference ÷ 0.1) × step value + (protein difference from reference ÷ 0.1) × step value + somatic cell band adjustment. You can set a minimum price below which the litre never falls.
| Example | Value |
|---|---|
| Base price | 0.34 per litre |
| Fat 4.1% against reference 3.5% (step value 0.005) | +0.030 |
| Protein 3.5% against reference 3.2% (step value 0.006) | +0.018 |
| SCC = 150,000/ml (band up to 200,000) | +0.010 |
| Price per litre | 0.398 |
Somatic cell bands and antibiotics
- SCC bands in thousands per ml are set by you: a bonus for clean milk and a deduction for high counts.
- Milk positive for antibiotics is priced at zero, and more importantly never enters the milk tank so it does not contaminate what is there, and you get an instant alert.
A default scheme and supplier-specific schemes
The default scheme applies to every supplier. For a large supplier or a special contract you add a dedicated scheme with a different base price and steps. The price simulator answers instantly: how much will this supplier get for this analysis?
Applied automatically on receipt
- When a supplier's milk is received into the tank, the software calculates the price from the analysis and records the amount in the supplier's account.
- In the Chef Board the suggested quality price shows beside the price-per-litre field, and is applied automatically on closing if no manual price is entered.
- A manual price is still possible for any exception.
A quality and delivery statement for each supplier
For any period: the number of deliveries and litres, average fat, protein and SCC weighted by litres, average price, amount due and the number rejected. One button sends the statement to the supplier on WhatsApp, ending the "why is my price lower" disputes.
A financial statement for each supplier: deliveries, payments and balance
- A statement for any period: opening balance, deliveries and payments with a running balance, and the balance due to the supplier.
- Milk delivery detail: litres, weighted fat and protein, SCC, price per litre and its value.
- Send the statement to the supplier over WhatsApp with a ready message, or print it and save it as PDF.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I send a weekly account statement to a milk supplier?
- Yes. From the supplier page choose "Account statement" and set the period, and you see the opening balance, deliveries with fat and price, payments and the balance due, with a ready send button over WhatsApp.
- Must I enter SCC for every delivery?
- No. If SCC is not entered the band adjustment is not applied, and the price is calculated from fat and protein only.
- What if the analysis differs between the factory and the supplier?
- The analysis recorded at receipt is used, and you can enter a manual price for any delivery when an exception is agreed.
- Does it work with my own farm milk?
- Quality pricing is for outside suppliers. Your own farm milk enters the tanks and production with its analysis and no amount due.
- Is it included in the subscription?
- Yes, within the cheese factory module ($20 per month).
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