CLEAN MILK.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 4 August 1928, Page 16

CLEAN MILK.

Air. Robert Laird, 8.5. c., County Organiser for Ayrshire, has issued his report oil the first- clean milk test conducted in Ayrshire by the- West of Scotland Agricultural College. This test was carried out under the auspices of the Craigie and Symington Farmers’ Association during the autumn and winter of 1927-28 and there were 28 competitors. Whore the milk was being delivered to the creamery, the samples were drawn on arrival of the milk there. Where the milk was not passing through the creamery, the- samples were drawn from the delivery cans prior' to their leaving the farm. Two preliminary samples (not included in the results) were drawn in order to guide the farmers prior to the commencement of the main test. For the latter, five samples were taken,, and full particulars regarding these are included in the bacteriological report. The results of these tests have demonstrated that milk of a high bacterial standard can be produced in buildings which fall considerably short of up-to-date ideals. The cleanliness and bacterial standard of the milk is by no means directly related to the quality of the buildings. The personal element —keen interest, efficient care and 'supervision, and the adoption of proper methods of production and handling to minimise contamnation—is of far greater importance than the class of buildings. Nevertheless, in many cases the buildings, in the interests of the producers might b© considerably improved, as many producers are seriously handicapped by the state of their buildings. Certificates of merit were awarded to 15 of the 28 competitors.