THE DAIRY BUSINESS.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 126, 2 November 1934, Page 4

THE DAIRY BUSINESS.

BUTTER PRICES; WHO’S FAULT? CLEANLINESS ESSENTIAL. Sir, —For some time now 1 have contemplated writing you an article re the above. In the course of my business I visit a great number of farms, and invariably take stock of the cowshed and surroundings. In some of them I can see no fault; the machines and separators, and the floors of the sheds are clean and the holding yards as well. A good supply of water is used lavishly and drained away from the shed. Let us look at the other side of the picture. All gateways, especially those hear the homesteads, are in a hopeless state. Twice a day the cows slough through these; in many cases their bags and teats are one 'mass of filth. They' come into the yard and spread this filth everywhere. If the yard is not concreted they go into the bails in a horrible state and very seldom are thoroughly washed. If it is a reasonably large ljerd the shed at the end of the milking is beyond description. It may be flushed down with some water and swept into the yard to increase the depth of mud. Most of. the sheds have no boiling water laid' on as this has cooled off evenly (if installed) during the milking.; Dairymen will never clean their plants, separator discs etc. unless they have steam to drive right through the piping and. rubbers. Luke .. warm water is no good. oMst of the separator rooms are too dark and stuffy. No sun ever percolates through to destroy the germs. Sour milk is left lying about and there are too many cracks in the floors holding all kinds of impurities'. There are a number of people who have had no experience on farms and a great many of them commit errors in ignorance. If two or three tactful inspectors were appointed for each district to go round the dairies and suggest certain improvements it would be all to the benefit of the industry. It is not necessary to' use the big stick, and cause discord, but if,these faults were pointed out to. the farmers I/am sure that in most cases they would be remedied and we would not have so much second grade cream ana discontent amongst suppliers. With your permission, Mr Editor, I will give a few hints as to how the cream should be handled a little later. I would also a@k your readers to know that my criticisms are given with 1 a desire to help a few of those who have dot had much experience. In passing I may state I have been through the whole process and. have -made,• by hand, 200 lbs of butter in pound pats per week from my own cows,, so I should be able to know the run of the, ropes a little. —I am, etc. , , “FARMERS’ FRIEND.” Pukekohe, November I,' 1934.