The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-01-18

The same amount of skim milk, made
into cottage cheese, has the protein
value of 22.5 pounds Of pork.
Perhaps you have thought of cot
tage cheese as fluffy, side-line sort
of dish, devoid of important food
value and undeserving of attention.
That has been the rather general
American conception. Our appetites
haven't been directed to that dish.
Many of us don't know that it is not
only palatable and nutritious but that
it has higher protein value than
steak. Bear that in mind-and eat
more cottage cheese.
A great increase in cottage cheese
production on the farm is entirely
practicable because very little special
equipment is necessary. Nor do the
operations require much time or skill
Demand for More Milk.
While this utilization of by-prod-
uct that now is not used for human
food Except in a very small way) is
the greatest immediate opportunity of
the dairy industry for war-winning
food production, other things are
necessary. The present milk produc-
ton must not only be maintained, but
future milk production must be in
creased, which means that stock must
be conserved now, and that there
must be more breeding. Several
years are required to bring about inS
creases in dairy herds. Increased
breeding this year will not be shown
in more milk production until three
years hence.
The reason we must provide for
future enlargement of our dairy herds
is that the European countries, both
neutrals and belligerents, have been
forced during the war to kill millions
of dairy cattle for meat. These
countries, of necessity have greatly
increased their importations of cheese,
condensed milk, and other dairy prod
ucts from the United States. As the
war continues they will be less able
to supply themselves and must re-
ceive even more dairy products from
us. Unless we breed more dairy cat
tie we can not supply the demand.
furthermore, when the war is over the
depleted dairy herd of Europe must
be restocked-and those countries
will look to us for breeding animals,
as we'll as for continued large sup
ply Of dairy products from the time
the war ends until their herds are
re- established
And, in addition to this, we must
maintain our milk supply at home.
Milk is practically an indispensable
item of food 1t could not be elimln-
ated from the national diet, or ma
terially reduced, without grave con-
sequences to health. Deprived of an
adequate milk supply, we could not
maintain the strength and yigor es-
sential to the production of the sup
plies for the men at the front. But,
for the sake Of the argument, sup
pose we could've would be eating
larger quantities of other forms of
food that should be sent to the fight
ers in France.
For these reasons the United
States department of agriculture, is
working for the establishment of dairy
cattle in sections where that in
dustry has not been developed, is
attempting to bring about a more
general distribution of dairy stock to
get the farmer who has three or four
or FIVE cows to add one or two ami
imals to his herd and to cause other
farmers who have no cows to get a
few.
It is urged that every dairyman
who feels that his individual interests
require the sale of some stock be
sure that the cows, if they are worth
more than their feed are sold to an
other dairyman or to farmer who
is establishing small herd or add
ing to one-to see that the stock is
conserved and not killed for meat.
Although milk has advanced in
price the consumer receives an eco
nomical food at prices now prevailing
at most places. For it must be re-
membered that milk combines food
values in way that nothing else
does. And in considering cost the
food values must be counted. From
a. standpoint of protein, milk at 10
cents quart equals eggs at 41.9
cents dozen or sirloin steak at 34.3
cents a pound, while, from stand
point of energy value, milk at Is
cents equals eggs at 20 cents a dozen
or sirloin steak at 21.2 cents a
pound