The deregulation of the sector occurred in the early 1990 and the globalization of markets have presented a series of injunctions to the productive milk chain, particularly in the primary production stage, imposing to the organizations the need of a wide reformulation of their structures and strategies in order to keep such organisms themselves either active and competitive. This study aims to present the experiences of associative organizations of dairy farmers of six rural communities of the State of Minas Gerais, which have been adopting the system of purchasing and use of communitarian milk cooling tanks. The methodology consisted in the utilization of qualitative and quantitative research methods through an exploratory study, a descriptive approach and a comparative multicase study. The statistical analyses of frequency and distinguishers were used. It was found that that 82% of the farmers interviewed stated that the need of installation of the communitarian tank was the chief reason for them to associate, which is highly justifiable, considering the transformations which have been occurring in that productive chain. Out of the motivational variables indicating the associative behavior which have most discriminated the communities it stand out the demand for the dairy plant, the power of bargain in milk price and in the purchase of inputs, the reduction of the transportation cost and the commitment to the MAPA guidelines. The results showed that the associative experiences of the dairy farmers in the purchasing of milk cooling tanks vary according to the participation of the local industry – whether a dairy plant whether an agricultural cooperative, as well as public bureaus.