Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-04-07
wholesome DAIRY PKoDUCrs
BY $. Il. Nelson, Professor Of Neteri.
nary Science, Washington State
College.

supply has been subject of discus
sion for long time, not a question
as to whether sanitary milk could
be produced, but whether it could be
produced commercially with a sufIic-
lent remuneration to the producer
and still keep the price of this milk
within the means Of the general pub
lie
This subject primarily involves the
production of a milk that is in iteslf
perfect in the condition of it's con
stituents, and that does not contain
foreign substances or bodies that are
injurious or that will injure it's
wholesomeness or healthfulness as a
food product for the human family.
The question also involves the per-
son who makes the production of the
milk his principal vocation, and who,
through the profits of this milk pro-
ducdon, may expect to make a liyeli-
hood for himself and family. He
must have a sufficient compensation
to constantly renew the wear and
tear on the dairy plant, to renew the
destructible parts of it when neces-
sary, and over and above these, he
must still have a profit with which he
may provide the necessities, comforts
and luxuries of life for his family.
would like to discuss part Of this
question from the point of view as
to the food value of a sanitary milk
as compared with other food stuffs.
Second, as to the cost of production
Of such milk at present. Third, as
to the cost Of the milk as delivered to
the consumer Fourth, discussion
of the prevailing conditions desired
in the future. The relative value Of
milk to other foods has not been
worked out as thoroughly as it might
be, still it is acknowledged by ply
siologists that milk compares favor
ably with such foods as beefsteak,
eggs, potatoes, bread and beans, the
common food stuffs Of man in this
country. When we try to make a
comparison as to values between
milk and other food stuffs for the
use of the young child we cannot do
so because there is no substitute for
milk as a food for the infant child.
The cost of producing this class of
milk on the farm is about cents a
quart, of which 2 1-2 cents is for
feed, 2 IL for care and ! cent is for
depreciation and taxes at the present
time. 1t costs about cents for
icing and eXpressage and cents for
bottles and delivery, making the.
milk worth about II cents net and is
delivered at the house of the con-
sumner at a cost to him of 3 cents.
Other common milks are at the pres
ent time selling at from to Z II
cents per quart. The cost Of the
production of this milk is from 4
cents to 4 IL cents per Quart.--The
expense of city delivery is from
cent to- ga cents per quart, making
The cost of production of common
milk from 1-2 to cents a quart.
When we speak of present sani-
tary conditions We mean stables that
are kept clean, the entire stables,
floors, walls and stalls are clean, be-
ing scrubbed and flushed daily, the
COWS are kept clean, curried and
washed before each milking, the
mixers and care-takers are clean.
The extra amount Of labor necessary
in doing all this is very expensive
With the present conditions Of keep
ing the entire stable extremely clean,
with the expense of cleaning the cows
and milking them in sanitary man
ner in an expensive stable, with the
cost of icing and cost of delivery, and
with the present class of cows giving
a low milk yield, I believe that it is
impossible to produce sanitary
milk for less than the price given
above, so if sanitary milk is to be
produced at lesser cost and placed
within the reach of a large number
of consumers, there must be some
quite radical changes in the produc-
ton and delivery of the sanitary
milk. l believe that it is quite pos
sible to change these conditions so
that the sanitary milk may be placed
at the door of the consumer cheaper
than it is being done at the present
time.
l am of the opinion that milk can
be produced in a clearly way in
cheaper manner than is done at pres
emit That the system of delivery can
be somewhat changed so as to be
less expensive. That, and this is the
most important Of all, it is possible
to make a definite change for the
better in the COWS producing the
milk The Introduction of these
three changes would be strong fac