DAIRY PRODUCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 October 1926, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE

NEW ZEALAND EXPORTS;

ERRORS IN PRODUCTION

(No. 11). . ;-r. To-day’s particulars in this series of articles on the dairy industry of •" : New Zealand, and features of it which require correction, will be a consideration of the errors in production of butter and cheese, with special reference to milking machines. • It is difficult to keep cither black or galvanised air and pulsation pipes clean. The black pipes rust and scale inside, and the galvanised are often rough, with crevices capable of holding- con-: tamination. When old pipes arc dis?.. mantled they are frequently found, to be in a dirty condition, especially at the bands, elbows and sockets. Nevertheless, drastic steps in this direction arc not the first improvements -which should be effected.. While there is a dirty stool, a dirty door handle, a dirty' machine, and a "supplier using lukewarm water received late in the day from the factory, the pressure. 6f spection should be directed primarily against these major evils —the first. cause of second-grade produce—and secondarily towards details in equipment-. Boiling water in the shed, and plenti-. ful use of it, is essential to the dairy industry. The man clean about his shed making do with old galvanised pipes, but plenty of boiling water, will always get better results than the careless " dairyman using all the latest plant in a slovenly manner. Get the system of cleaning right, with greater care in milking, and then more expen-: sive plants will be justified and worth while. ■ A good plant may make an unsatisfactory milker even more care T : less in his habits. ,

Though it may be contended that the milk docs not go near the dirty air and pulsating pipes, it should be remembered that when the plant is not in use a draught of air is • enough to"carry contamination to a clean milk pipe. . A burst inflation will foul the whole system. The latest models generally employ niekelled brass pipes, smooth in- ' side, with crosses at all changes of direction, so that it is possible to see through them, and to use a brush inside every length of piping in the, plant."; However, the average farmer in Taranaki should be induced to spend his money on many other necessary improvements round old'plant'before the replacement of galvanised iron pipes with brass receives its-turn. In- installing new plants, the slight difference in the cost justifies the .regulation insisting upon .the use 'of brass in. all new installations, and also in-second-hand machines which arc being ■ reerected. • ■ •;, - Vacuum, tanks should be of the open < type, coming apart either in the middle, or with a lid the full size of the tank. A drain tap should be supplied., and the tank fitted in a loxv accessible’-’-position. Some.inspectors require these to be fitted outside- . . The ..practice-of • not taking releasers apart for cleaning., is a serious omission.. To give'the best results, cups should come apart’ once a week. Separator bowls should be taken apart after every separation- oncei a day. is both insanitary and detrimental to close skimming. Chuting should be of material which does not rust. Every joint should be • rivetted and soldered, and due ion made in a long chute for expansion and‘contraction. Beaded chuting in movable lengths is the most sanitary, and the hear! should not be soldered trf'• a long length of chute. An outcry arose recently in Auckland against milking machines, on the ground that they were insanitary.*-' It -' was urged in the Queen City that-no’ town should have any but a handmilked supply. A Government inspector set out to test the debated point,and, according to the reported result, the machine properly used beat the, hand-milker in every case. Demonstrable numbers of bacteria developed after hand-milliing much quicker than’ was the case with machines. : •*~:t?i