The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-04-27
ONIONS IN MILK
Flavor and Odor Not Unhwole-
some But Very Chico
tionable.
Remedies Suggested

tne coming OF Spf!ES AHA liesu pas
lures great many farmers. milk
producers. and consumers are con-
fronted with the usual. ard to GER
tain extent inevitable. flavor and
odor of onions in milk products. The
presence Of onion favor in milk does
not indicate that the milk containing
this favor has been produced or
handled under unsanitary conditions.
nor does the presence Of the faTor
and odor render the mix a;!"'.:*.e-
some for human consumption. But
the onion favor in milk. even to
slight degree, is such a pronounced
and unpleasant one to the great ma
tority OF consumers that from q com.
nercial standpoint all milk 80 affect
ed is unfit. Cream from this milk
may be used for butter making.
though the resulting butter will still
retain the Objectionable favor to 4
marked degree. Az . result OF this
trouble IN milk, many producers ana
dealers suffer every spring consider.
able financial less, part OF which,
at least could be avoided II proper
precautions were taken and prepara-
ton made fer the short time during
which the trouble arises.
AS to remedies and treatment Ct
"oniony" milk, the only sure and ef'
fectivs means lies Ia prevention. II
onions are present In tho pasture
they must come out or the mllk COW
must be kept cut for several hours
prior TO milking time, else the milk
will surely have the characteristic
Objectionable odor and havor. Should
the onions bs few, or skould they be
confined to a limited area, It might
be possible and advisable to pull UP
the plants by hand before seed are
produced and thus eventually rid the
pasture Of them. On tho other hand.
If the pasture is badly infested the
only course to follew IL to take the
milk cows OF the pasture early IN
the afternoon, at lesst four or hve
hours before milking tine.
The onion plant Is one OF the frst
to begin growing in the spring, ana
the COW, with her natural craving ior
green succulent feed at this season
Of the year, Is not at all particular
about what she eats while the graz
ing is 50 scant In this connection
8 grazing lot of rye or rye and barley
Or clover and barley serves double
purpose. II the cow IS allowed &C.
cess to such grazing lots for an hour
or so each day not only will her milk
flow be very much increased but her
hunger for green feed will be salts
fed to such an extent that she Will
be moro careful about grazing en-
wild onions while IN the pasture.
The onion favor in milk n only
oae though perhaps the most pro-
neuncsd and objectionable, OF many
food aavors which often got into
milk from the cow. Such feeds az
rape, rutabages, cabbage and vet
brewers grains. when fed either Sast
prior or durins nilkiAs, often innars
quite pronoqAsed and eeisess's'ols
'iavors to milk. Any Of the above
feeds, however. may safely be fed
3ust after milking or several hours
before milking without affecting the
favor of the milk in any way. SO
It Is where conditions make Il nsess-
gary to grase milk cows on onion IN
tested pastures. II the cows are
turned on these pasturss immediately
after milking IN the morning and
then driven up about noon, there
should be little II any trace OF onion
flavor In the milk. Especially IL this
true where the COWS are allowed to
Craze on green grazing lots which ars
free from the wild onions or where
good grade Of corn silage Is fed as
succulent feed.
Various methods Of removing the
onion flavor and edor from milk 80
contaminated have been tried out
with little success. Perhaps the most
common as we'll as the most etfec'
tive treatment Is that OF aeratien.
But even with this method. the
amount CT the Objectionable favor
and odor removed is 50 small that II
IS impossible to render contaminated
milk free from taint.
Summary.
!. Allow milk COWS to run On en-
ion infested pastures only in the fore
noon. Drive them up four or hve
hours before milking time.
2. Provide green grazing lots, or
have an abundance or corn silage, to
increase the flow Of milk and to ap'
pease the cows craving for green
feed
3. Take extra precautions With the
handling and cooling Of the milk IN
order that no bad odors and havors
might develop to augment the oojec'
tionable ones from the onions.