PURE MILK METHODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20386, 15 October 1929, Page 12

PURE MILK METHODS.

FROM COW TO CONSUMER.

NO CONTACT WITH AIR.

[from our own correspondent.]

NE"W YORK, Sept. 18

It is now possible for milk to mako tho entire journey from cow to consumer without contact with the air until opened for use. Barnyard milking has given place to dairy science. Now comes Mr. R. R. Graves, who is in charge of dairy cattle feeding, breeding and management investigations for tho bureau of dairy industry, controlled by the United States Department of Agriculture, with an idea that may set a now pinnacle of dairy sanitation.

Installod on an experimental farm, Mr. Graves', mothod consists of overhead sanitary pipe-lines that carry milk direct from the cow to largo vacuum tanks in tho dairy liouso. It can bo cooled as it enters tho tank, or it can bo pasteurised and then coolod in the same. tank. It is possible, ho says, to go a step further niul bottle the milk under vaouum, using the principles now commonly employed in canning fruits and vogotablos. Tho system consists of a mechanical milking unit of standard make, but instead of going into tho usual portablo receptacle the milk is drawn into a stationary container located between two stalls and somowhat abovo tho cows. The receptacle is of unbroakablo glass and is suspended from a weighing mechanism. Its transparency makes the rate" of milking visiblo to tho operator at all times, both by the amount of milk in the receptacle and by the weight registered by the scale. When tho milk ceases to flow into the receptaclo the operator records tho weight of the milking and opens a valve, which permits the milk to bo drawn from tho bottom of, the container through the pipelines. The system not only gives a cleaner productj Mr. Graves says, but reduces the labour and tho costs incidental to milking.