QUALITY OF MILK

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27688, 18 June 1955, Page 8

QUALITY OF MILK

SUPPLIERS REPLY TO , “ THE PRESS ”

VARIATIONS IN TESTS QUOTED A further statement on the quality of Christchurch milk was made last evening by Mr J. E. Royds, chairman of the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Suppliers’ Co-operative Association, when replying to a leading article in yesterday’s issue of “The Press.’’

“First, I would like to correct the statement made in the leading article in ‘The Press’ that the Christchurch Metropolitan Milk Suppliers’ Co-oper-ative Association made tests for solids-not-fat,’’ said Mr Royds. “We did not, as we feel that there are highly qualified organisations available, such as the Department of Agriculture and Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. for this purpose. They should do the experimenting. In the case mentioned by me, the Department of Agriculture did the job, using my herd and several others with negative results as far as ascertaining the cause and cure of low solids.

"We seem to have a problem in Christchurch peculiar to this area,' and ’The Press’ put its finger on the difference when it quoted the figures ’lnvercargill less than 1 per cent, with failure to comply, Christchurch nearly 20 per cent.’—this with the same breeds -of cow, in the same proportions m each area. This seems to eliminate the breed question, and we do not agree either that the management of Christchurch herds is one whit inferior to that in any other centre. But .could some armchair critic give us thfe explanation for this difference?”’ Mr Royds said.

Mr Brash in his article states that a drop in solids-not-fat up to .5 per cent, can be caused by under-feeding, but what is the explanation for the greater sudden variations in solids-not-fat which we get near Christchurch?" asked Mr Royds. The to whom the answer is so easy, might explain the following, in my own herd of Friesians, tested at weekly intervals by the Department of Agriculture, the following results were obtained:-

Same cows, same feed, same management, yet I was liable to prosecun!r On is on _» tiie flrst thr ee tests," said Mr Royds. "I can assure ‘The Press’ and the general public that when we are told a specific remedy for lower solids-not-fat in the Christchurch area, we will immediately put it into use, but until we can be told with certainty what the remedy is, no payment for quality' wijl influence the cows’ ideas of the correct solids-not-fat." said Mr Royds

Per Cent. Per Cent. First week Fat Solids-not-fat . 5.17 8.10 becond week 5.27 8.45 Third week . 5.27 8.42 Fourth week . 5.15 9.12 Fifth week . 4.7 8.9