Importance Of Milk Standards Stressed

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31344, 14 April 1967, Page 1

Importance Of Milk Standards Stressed

(New Zealand Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, April 13. A strong protest against the suggestion that the health authorities’ standards for town milk supply be lowered or abolished, was made last night at a combined meeting of the Jersey and Ayrshire cattle breeders’ associations.

The standards required are 3.25 per cent butterfat test, and 8.5 per cent solids-not-fat. Mr W. H. Oates, the president of the Ayrshire association, said that the town milk industry was having trouble in maintaining standards, especially in the case of Friesians, which in general gave a greater volume of milk but not of a quality comparable with most other breeds.

The suppliers of Frieisian milk, said Mr Oates, had been pressing the health authorities for a lowering of standards, which would save Friesian breeders the monetary penalties which they, and others, suffered for any lowquality milk. The combined meeting, in a letter of protest to the Min-

ister of Health (Mr McKay) said that the lowering of standards could have very far-reaching effects on the town milk industry in a strong consumer resistance, and also a most adverse effect on the overseas market.. Any action was unjustified because there was plenty of high-quality T.8.-tested milk available in most areas of the country, said the letter.