Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-11
Dairy Division
Makes Suggestions
For Cleaner Milk

Maine dairymen have much to be
congratulated on. Maine produces
more milk than any other New Eng
land state but one. Probably Maine
milk is frecr from disease than any
other New England state. Figures
show that Maine COWS rank among
the first as having less tuberculosis
among the states east of the MisSis-
Sippi River. But in spite of these
facts many producers through care
lessncss or neglect, are not living up
to the reputation which Maine dairy
mon have established. Let us all
work together to make Maine milk
superior to any other in the world.
Perhaps the greatest trouble
which is being encountered today in
the production of milk is in prevent
ing the entrance of dirt. Milk is
probably our most necessary food.
1t is also one of the most difficult
foods to distribute to the consumer
in a clean and wholesome condition
on account of it's source of pro-
ductiOn and poor keeping qualities.
Milk as it comes from the COW is
free from dirt and comparatively
free from disease producing or other
wise harmful bacteria. The. entrance
of the dirt starts as soon as the milk
leaves the udder. Bacteria and dirt
enter the milk even before it reaches
the pail and the enemies of clean
milk are ever waiting to pounce up
on it. BY far Tie greatest danger of
milk becoming contaminated by
tuberculosis germs is through part
lcles of manure entering the milk
Fortunately these enemies are cas-
lily warded off by little attention
"a lD
contact where dirt meets milk are
easily prevented: first by keeping
cows flanks. udders and tail clean,
wiping before milking, and second,
by use of the hooded paid Consider
that it is raining drops of milk into
your milk pail. An open top pail will
permit the maximum amount of rain
to enter while the hooded pail should
allow practically none.
Dirty milk is an indication of CAFE
leSsness on the part of the pro-
Queer. There is some step in the care
in production that has been neglect
cd or overlooked. 1t has been the
observation of the dairy division
that the large majority of samples
of dirty milk taken are those strain
ed through a cheese cloth strainer.
In the past the cheese cloth strainer
has been widely used and it is to a
large extent used today. 1t should be
condemned. Work carried on by the
United States Department of Asri-
culture shows that more sediment
will be washed through eight thick
nesses of cheese cloth than one
thickness of filter cloth or cotton
pad. Cotton pad is rapidly coming
into use. 1t is less expensive t;,an
cheese cloth, as the cheese cloth
must be washed and boiled after
each milking to keep out bacteria
and dirt.
Not only is dirty milk hard to sell
on the market but it is likely to
contain larger number of bacteria.
bacteria cling to dirt particles.
Many of these are the agents which
set up the souring process in milk.
This means losses to the producer
either directly, because his product
has been refused, or Indirectly. be-
cause the creamery has lost on ac
count of the product souring and
must either charge it to the producer
as whole or raise the price to the
consumer which decreases the de-
mand.