ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18374, 14 April 1923, Page 14

ON THE LAND.

'.■:C'' : -::f > .'\' : ', '„.'."'''■..-.,'.',*». : ",.""': ;'.''v'■"'.', TAINTED. CREAM. DIRTY MILKING MACHINES. Our King Country correspondent writesAt an important meeting of farmers, held recently at Otorohanga, a matter of some moment to dairymen was discussed, viz., the effect of dirty milling machines on the grading of cream. One ':','■■"•'"■ speaker maintained that dirty machines had more to '' do with the low grading of cream than feed flavours. This view was strongly endorsed by Mr. A. E. Misseii, outsido organiser for the New Zealand Co operative Dairy Company. Speaking on the matter, he said that information now in their possession led them to believe that ninety per cent, of the objectionable grades of milk and cream were due to dirty milking machines, and not to feed flavours at all. He had investigated numerous instances, and in almost every one had discovered that complaint should bo directed against the machine rather than against any actual feed flavour. A great many suppliers did not use boiling water when cleansing out their machines. They made use of warm or hot water, but this was insufficient for cleaning purposes. In order to kill the bacteria which developed, it was essential to use boiling water, and if this were not done there ■would be trouble sooner or later. The majority of farmers did not take sufficient care in looking after their machines. Perhaps they scalded the pipes out or put boiling water through the milking pipes, but a great many of them did not attend to the vacuum pipes or the air system. These should be run through every week. or, better still, every day if possible. If this were done, nine-tenths of the trouble In connection with the grading of cream .would disappear. The point was to emthe need for water that was absolutely boiling. It was true that a certain amount of trouble was being experienced owing to the use of turnips. The flavour of turnips was so subtle that frequently it did not develop until the cream had been manufactured into butter, and occasions had occurred where apparently good butter was sent forward to the griding store, but on arrival there the flavour had developed to auch an extent that the butter . was graded down. Experience proved that very, great care was required in the use of turnips, and the best rules ho could suggest were that turnips should be thoroughly wilted prior to being fed to the cows, and that then only enough to last the cattle one: and a-half hours' should be given, '• after which plenty of green feed, in the shape of grass, maize, or millet, should be fed fto the animals. Provided ample green feed was given after the .-■ turnips, the bad effects of the latter did not become so noticeable. The meeting resolved that rules for the proper care of milking , machines '{.'. should be : drawn up and" printed on canvas, and "tacked up in every „ supplier's shed. En- : dorsing a statement that many machines .were improperly ; erected, and parts could 'not: be got > at; easily for cleaning, ';;- Mr. .Missen said i that cases had actually ; oc- ■ curred Jv where ; they ; had to . saw :| through >.. some-air systemi pipes, and put in con- ; necting links ;in'--.order A that they might be effectively cleansed^'': He suggested , that suppliers who -'contemplated the installation ;'of milking machines should make use of the Government instructors' services, who were men of experience. They could give the former a judgment " before giving; the erecting;? mechanic; the .' clearance, ho desired. 1 This suggestion was •■ unanimously endorsed.