The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-16

PHILADELPHIA Record.

Philadelphia Record
There Is a growing tendency to make re-
forms in the diaries, and there is no de-
partment on the farm which demands more
consideration than the present methods of
handling both cows and their milk. 1t Is
claimed that there is more filth and less
care in 6airying than in almost any other
occupation. The milk is TO be sold and
1.-The dealer is not particular" while the
consumer is in blissful ignorance of any of
the conditions affecting the preparation of
milk. Milk passes through so many hands
from the cow to the consumer as to render
the matter of obtaining pure and clean milk
a difficult one. The dairyman consoles him.
self with the fact that he strained the
milk before selling it, but the strainer does
not remove soluble filth. A pinch of salt
or sugar in milk is not arrested by the
strainer. nor is any other substance that is
dissolved by the milk during the act of
milking. Those who handle cows know
that II is not unusual for a cow 10 get down
on the floor of the stall 10 rest, without
regard to whether the floor is covered with
manure or urine, and her udder and teats
may have rested during the night on heap
OF fresh manure. The cow is not as clean
as the hog as far as selecting suitable
place for resting is concerned, and where
the dairyman himself is careless and does
not keep the stalls cleans, as we'll as brush
and even wash. the cows, it is almost inn
possible to have clean milk. 1t is crafty
ing TO notice, however, that some darymen
wash the udders and teats of the cows at
every milking, wiping with clean towels,
avoiding every chance or filth entering the
milk, but such dairymen get good prices,
which secured by their regulations for
skillful management OF their cows and
their products.
The ordinary dairyman Injuries his bust
ness and loses profit by purchasing fresh
cows from other parties. Some OF them
will sell a good cow as soon as she be-
comes dry and buy one in her place that Is
fresh, but which may be much inferior TO
the one sold. Then there Is the liability of
bringing disease. as that great scourge OF
the dairyman-abortion among cows-is
contagious, being carried from one herd to
another through the practice of selling the
dry cows and buying others that may 90
harm and which may not be worth the
room they occupy. Then. again, the calves
taken from the when two or
three days old, and the milk from their
| dams is added to that taken from the
other cows of the herd, although such milk
| is ropy and really unfit for use, being in
| furious to children who are fed upon II.
| The milk from fresh cows should go to
| but as the average dairyman milks his
| cows for the purpose OF selling their proc
| calf an article that he can put on the
market The result is that the milk sold
| in the cities is of variable quality, much Of
| ii unclean, and some of IL unfit for human
| use. There is room for Improvement and
| there are hundreds of consumers ready and
willing to pay the dairyman for his extra
| care If he will provide them with milk OF
| the best quality. 1t may take time TO bulid
| up such trade, but any Galryman VINO Will
| make il a point to seek such customers ana
| assure them that he may be depended upon
| will find that he cannot easily supply the
| demand.
| The best milk is from good and whole
| some food. At this season of the year pas
| turage cannot be provided or the COWS
| given an opportunity of selection or food
| in the fields. but selection by the dairynan
| of the foods given at the barn Is matter
| which should not be overlooked. Eacn
| cow in a herd is individual and must be
| treated accordingly. If she rejects foods
that are readily acceptable by the others
| she should be allowed something which TO
| her is more palatable and variety OF food
| is always better than the use OF single
kind. as the health of the animals can only
| be promoted by supplying them so as TO
or 'off her feed" the milk is then unfit for
| use and should be thrown away. If COW
| is a heavy feeder she should be allowed
| to eat ali that she requires, as such cows
| are usually large producers and demand
| more food than inferior animals. Every
dairyman should breed his cows and make
II point never TO buy fresh one II his
| herd is healthy and free from disease he
| can then keep his animals In good condi-
| ton with less difficulty, while the yield OF
| milk from each COW will be more than
| doubled in a few years by judicious breed
| by dairymen has been the greatest curse
| that has ever been encountered by them
as il is the foundation of all diseases and
losses among the herds