The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1920-04-22
ONIONS IN MILK
Flavor and Odor Not Unhwole.
some But Worry Objec-
tionable.
RemedIss 0upasstod

Clemson College, April 13.-wNA
The coming OF spring and fresh p~s-
lures great many farmers, milk
producers, and consumers are con-
fronted with the usual, and to q oer-
tain extent inevitable, flavor and
odor Of onions in milk products. Tho
presence Of onion flavor in milk does
not indicate that the milk con attaining
this flavor has been produced or
handled under unsanitary conditions,
nor does the presence Of the flavor
and odor render the milk unwhole-
some for human consumption. But
the onion flavor in milk, even to a
slight degree. 10 such a pronounced
and unpleasant one to the great ma
5ority OF consumers that from a com-
mercial standpoint all milk SO Affect
ed is unfit. Cream from this milk
may be used for butter making,
though the resulting butter will still
retain the Objectionable flavor to q
marked degree. As a result OF this
trouble in milk. many producers and
dealers suffer every spring consider
able financial loss. . part Of which,
at least could be avoided II proper
precautions were taken and prepara-
tion made for the short time during
which the trouble arises.
As to remedies and treatment of
"oniony" milk, tho only sure and Of.
fectfve means lies in prevention. II
onions are present in the pasture
they must come out. or the milk COW
must be kept out for several hours
prior to milking time, else the milk
will surely have the characteristic
Objectionable odor and flavor. Should
the onions be few. or should they be
confined to q limited area, 1t 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 the other hand.
II the pasture is badly infested tho
only course to follow s to take the
milk cows of the pasture early in
the afternoon, at least four or five
hours before milking time
The onion plant Is one Of the first
to begin growing in the spring, and
green succulent feed at this season
Of the year, is not at all particular
about what she eats while the graz
ing Is 80 scant. In this connection
a grasing lot Of rye or rye and barley,
or clover and barley serves q double
purpose. II the COW Is allowed ac-
cess to such grazing lots for an hour
or so each day not only will her milk
now be very much increased but her
hunger for green feed will be salts
fed to suoh an extent that she will
be more careful about grazing on
wild onions while In the pasture.
The onion flavor IN milk is only
one, though perhaps the most pro-
nounced and Objectionable, Of many
food navors which often get into
milk from the DOW. Such feeds n
rape. rutabages, cabbage and wet
brewers grains. when fed either just
prior or during milking. often impart
quite pronounced and Objectionable
favoB to milk. Any Of che above
feeds. however. may safely be fed
Just after milking or several hours
before milking without affecting the
flavor Of the milk in any way. SO
It Is whore conditions make 1t nsces
sary to Craze milk cows on onion in
tested pastures. " the cows are
turned on these pastures imm ediatsly
after milking IN the morning and
then driven up about noon, there
should be littis X any trace OF onion
flavor In the milk. Especially is this
true where the cows are allowed to
craze on green grazing lots which are
free from the wild onions or where
good grade Of corn silage is fed az a
succulent feed.
Various methods OF removing the
onion flavor and odor from milk 80
contaminated have been tried out
with little success. Perhaps the most
common as we'll as the most sHec-
tive treatment Is that OF aeration.
But even with this method. the
amount Of the Objectionable flavor
and odor removed Is so small that It
is impossible to render contaminated
milk free from taint.
Summary.
|. Allow milk cows to run on on
ion infested pastures only In the fore
noon. Drive them up four or Eve
hours before milking time.
g. Provide green grazing lots, or
have an abundance or corn sllase. to
increase the flow OF milk and to ap-
pease the cows craving for green
feed
g.. Take extra precautions with the
handling and cooling OF the milk in
order that no bad odors and fiavors
might develop to augment the objec.
tionable ones from the onions.
AVOID COUNTRY DAMAGE TO