The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-12-27
IItTM, DARLING

: ! :. ) :. llz !; y
l understand ideal dairying' to
mean the condition of the milk pro-
lucing industry that We would like to
see in vogue. My ideal therefore Is
practical. 1t refers to the great bulk
If market milk and not to a dairy herd
and those whose trade is limited or
whose owner can as we'll run it at
loss as a profit. I mean no criticism
Of certified milk or other such high
class diaries. They have their use
full place and they are increasing in
Importance, but they are beyond any
ideal that we may expect to realize IN
the production of the great bulk OF
market milk for some years to come,
Milk production is an industry In
which many thousands of citizens are
making their living. It's methods OF
conduct have been about the same for
many years. 1t represents an invest
ment of hundreds of millions OF dol
lars. Radical changes cannot be made
suddenly in such an enormous enter
prise. For present-day ideal would
describe conditions that are now to
be found on some of the better dairy
farms that are sending milk to the
general market and dong so at a
profit. The fact that dairyman must
make a profit from his business is
often overlooked. Many people seem
to think he should be philanthropist
or at least carry on his business at
a loss.
The production of milk may be dis
cussed conveniently under five head
ings, representing five distinct points
that should be guarded. These are:
1. The health of the COW.
2. The cleanliness of the cow and
her surroundings.
3. The condition of the utensils.
A. The cleanliness of the employees
Gncluding their health.
1. Cows that produce milk for hui
man food should be in good health A
competent dairyman can usually tell
If COW is not in good health and he
will recognize any of the common
cow ailments except tuberculosis, and
he should always withhold from the
market any milk given by such one
He should have a veterinarian pass
upon the health of his herd at least
once a year. The value of the tuber
culin test is we'll known and it should
be used by a rapidly increasing mum
Der of dairymen. But it would be I'M
wise, in my judgment, to compel its
use in all diaries within a short time
There are not enough competent vet
erinarians to test all COWS in a short
period of time, nor are our laws sc
effective now that unreliable work and
recontamination can be sufficiently
| guarded against Here is an instance
where cow owners need to know the
facts. When they understand the
. true value of tuberculin and how Its
} use may save them from heavy losses
} as we'll as assure safer milk, they will
want this test.
Measures for protecting the health
of the herd include light and ventila
ton in the stables. Every stable
should have an abundance Of direct
sunlight and fresh air. If dairymer
understood the Importance of these
agents, new windows and ventilators
would be installed at a rapid rate. Il
would be well If every dairymaI
knew the details of some carefully
conducted experiment along these
: lines, which has shown the better re
suits in a dairy where light and fresf
: air were abundant as compared will
another where these aids to health
were lacking. 't..E.
2. The cow and her surrounding
should be kept clean and this requires
, intelligent labor or expert supervi
sion. Wholesome milk cannot be pro
duced in dirty places. Many pro
ducers are honest in their belief tina
a little foreign matter falling into mill
does no harm If the milk Is vel
strained. They do not know that OF
ganic matter is laden with objection
able types of bacteria and these or
ganisms constitute the chief harm
and that the soluble part of the con
terminating material is next in impol
lance and the stuff that cannot ge
| through the strainer is the least i'm
! portant If dairymen did but appre
ciate what it means to plant a 10
of bacteria in milk as well as the
appreciate what it means to let 10
a of weed seeds get into their fields
then it would be easier to enforce tn
r simple rules of cleanliness.
I 1t is not necessary here tc tell hoy
to clean a COW or a stable but thes
e are the things of impl rtance rathe
| than the breed OF COW or the cost @
: the stable. Some rich but nisguide
e people have spent fortunes on priz
S winning animals and fancy building
and are yet unable to produce goo