Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-16
Essentials Of Clean Milk Production
ELABORATE AND EXPENSIVE EQUIP
MENT UNNECESSARY.

ELABORATE AND EXPENSIVE EQUIF
MENT UNNECESSARY.
wv. ]. Dougan In Hoard's Dairyman.)
There are two fundamental economi
principles underlying the clean milk In
dustry. The first of these is that tn
selling price must be within the reach o
the family with a moderate income ant
low enough 80 that clean milk may b
classed as an economical food. Tb
second principle is that the selling pric
must be high enough to compensate th
dairy farmer and the distributor TO
their labor.
1t seems at first thought that here ar
two directly opposing tendencies In tn
clean milk industry-cheap to the con
sumner and high price for the producer
A comprehension of the esseDtials II
clean milk production on the one hant
and an appreciation of the relative valu'
of clean milk as q food on the other
brings these two apparently opposins
tendencies into q harmonious relation
where both consumer and producer ma!
have their just due.
We will pass over the question Of th'
food value of clean milk with this state
ment. Dirty milk is dear at any price
and clean. wholesome milk is relative
ly cheap food at eight to ten cents pei
quart.
SUPPLYING CLEAN MILK AT REASON
ARIE ppJcr
The purpose of this article is to show
how satisfactory, ,high-class milk may b
supplied at these prices. We propose tc
point out logically the essentials In pro
ducing clean milk and to enforce our ar
gument that these are the essentials BY
example and experiences in the actua
work.
It is universally agreed that the bac
terial test is the most accurate and critic
al test of clean milk. Therefore, wher
we use the term, clean milk, in this
orticle we shall always mean bacterially
clean, or milk with low bacterial
count.
ESSENTIALS IN PRODUCING CLEAN MILF
1t is generally accepted that there are
just two essentials in producing clear
milk, namely. clean and cool. W.
might close this article with this state
ment IL there was not such wide varia
tion of opinion as to the meaning oi
these terms. Some would carry the
idea of clean to an extreme and sterilize
the COW, the stable, the feed, the mixer
and the whole world about. Then they
would Immediately freeze the whole
into solid mass. Speaking seriously,
some contend for surgically clean
stable, like an operating room and all
the operating of the dairy on the sur
gically clean basis, and cooling tenn
persture close to freezing In order to
produce a clean milk. No one who
knows the conditions of bacterial growth
but appreciates that these methods will
get the results. These methods 80 in
crease the cost of production that the
possible consumers are limited and also
the chance of profit to the producer is
scant.
Our contention is that with less ex.
pensive methods and with the stress put
upon the essential points, an entirely
satisfactory milk can be produced and
sOlu at pEtCo Wisutu euo iooou VI snS
laboring man.
CLEANLINESS IN THE DAIRY
There are three things about the
dairy that must be clean. The COW,
the utensils. and the dsirymau. We
mean by q clean cow first of all
healthy, thrifty, uplooking COW, well
fed and we'll groomed. To this end 1t is
essential to apply the tuberculin test
regularly and to discard all suspicious
animals. However, too much confidence
cannot be placed in the test alone. A
careful physical examination should be
made frequently by good veterinarian
The dairy man himself should always be
on the alert to detect any of condition
In the herd. Especially should be
guard against any udder troubles. This
essential in producing clean milk does
not add to the cost OF producing but
rather lessons 1t. The sick COW, the
sargetty COW, and the three or two
teater are seldom profitable producers
Wedding them out in the interest OF
clean milk lessons the cost Of producing
milk.
GhOOMlNd IdE COW
The grooming of the COW is q process
that, il improperly done, thwsrts all
other precautions for clean milk, or, II
too much expense is put into 1t, will
throw the balance on the wrong side OF
the ledger. In fancy stables, we have
seen the cove washed and swashed, and
vet the points from which the most oi
the dirt gets into the milk never touch
ed. In these stables the clean milk is
due to precautions other than all Of this
expensive and disagreeable washing. In
our own work we follow the principle OF
keeping the dirt of of the cows by good
bedding and close attention, rather than
getting it off after 1t has been allowed to
get on.
The necessary grooming of COW that
has been we'll bedded and kept normally
clean in an ordinary barn is simple and
inexpensive process. With card and a
good brush loosen and brush off coarse
dirt and hairs from shoulders, back,
TANKS, hips, legs and tail. Give careful
attention to all regions Of the udder and
especially that soil and bacteria fer
tile little pocket between the four teats.
Then with pail OF clean water and q
spoppe to fit the hand wet the udder and
wash carefully each teat, then rinse and
squeeze out the sponge and wipe each
test. the udder, flank, and the escutch-
sou. That COW 10 clean unless she has
been allowed to wsllow In filth. In that
case no amount of grooming can put
her in proper shape to milk that day.
This method of grooming 10 not an ex.
pensive process, nor is 1t injurious to
the COWS as is too much wetting. One
man can groom twenty properly kept
COWS In an hour. This essential in pro.
ducing clean milk cannot all be added to
ths ssllinp price. The COWS largely pay
for this grooming In Q better fiow oi
milk.
CARE OF THE MILK UTENSILS
Probably the most important factor In
the process of getting clean milk is the
utsnsils that come into direct contact
nth the milk. DR.. G. E.. North, as
n,oneer advocate Of clean milk, secured
rond erful results by having all uten
ala. a. cans and pals, washed ane
.terilized at q central plant and sent ou
10 the various farms supplying his milk
In our own practices We have always pu'
great emphasis on this point. Oul
methods are to brush each piece clean II
An abundance OF cold water: wash IN ho'
water containing q cleansing solution
rinse In hot water; and sterllixe will
IA. .seam We uee the covered pai