Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-22
CLEAN MILK IS
ECONOMICAL AT
A HIGH PRICE

The following article from the
United States department of ogricul-
ture on cleanliness of milk is thorough
ly endorsed by our Commissioner of
Agriculture J. A. Roberts
There has been in the past much in
difference on the part of consumers
with respect to the cleanliness of milk;
too many of them desire to buy milk
at low price and do not give any con-
sideration to quality. Dirty milk may
prove expensive as gift. while clean
milk may be economical even at a high
price; the cheapest article is often the
most expensive. A higher price for
clean milk may be cheap insurance
against some form of sickness.
In recent Farmers Bulletin (No.
602) the U. S. Department of Agri-
culture has outlined the main factors
that should go to favor the production
of clean, safe milk. These include
clean, healthy cows, kept in light,
well-ventilated stables, that may be
easily cleaned; well drained barn
/ yard; thoroughly sterilized utensils
and healthy mixers that milk with
dry hands; small top milking pail;
separate house for handling the milk;
an abundant supply of pure water
The temperature at which the milk is
Kept is also an important feature, as
bacteria multiply very rapidly when
the temperature is above so degrees
F. The milk should be cooled immedf-
ately after milking, to so degrees F,
| or lower, and stored, until delivered
at a low temperature.
Increasing Demand of Consumers for
Clean Milk
An increasing demand for good
| clean milk among consumers is a.
gratifying indication that there is a.
more general realization of the i'm
portance of this item This demand
has resulted in more stringent regu-
iations concerning the sanitary condi-
tons associated with the milk supply
compliance with these sanitary rules
requires additional care, attention, and
extra expense on the part of the pro-
Queer of the milk, and while this ex-
pense may not be large, it is only fair
that the consumer should pay his
share of the cost of improving the
quality of the milk. The consumer
can not expect to purchase a clean.
safe milk at the same price as a dirty
milk which endangers the health of his
family.
A more serious consideration is the
marked increase in the cost of produce
ton which has resulted in recent
years from feed and labor problems
This increase is in keeping with the
increase in the cost of almost every
commodity, and the consumer must
expect to pay his portion of any legitt-
mate increase in the cost of produc-
ton occasioned by these conditions.
On the other hand there is need of
more attention to better MANAGEMENT
ON the average farm devoted to the
production of milk The amount of
milk produced per cow is frequently so
low as to reflect seriously upon the
business ability of the owner. A pro-
Queer who makes no systematic effort
TO lower the cost of production by in
creasing the average production of
milk per COW is entitled to little SWIM
pathy if he finds the business unprofit-
able. The profits yielded by a good
COW often go to offset losses caused nv
poor cows in the same stable. The
keeping of records of production of
each individual in the herd, the elini-
nation of improbable cows, the i'm
provement of the herd through. selec-
ton OF the best producers and breed
Ing them to bull of dairy merit. and
the selection of the best heifers from
such breeding are necessary to put
milk production on a sound basis. I'm
less the producer does these things he
dlsregards the fundamental principles
OF business economy, and it is unrea-
sonable for such a man to expect the
consumer to pay him a profit on bust
ness practices which represent such
economic waste. There is no good ex-
cuse for slack business methods on the
dairy farm. Directions for keeping
records OF milk yields and cost of pro-
auction are furnished by every State
agricultural college and by the United
States Department of Agriculture.