DAIRY REGULATIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 5

DAIRY REGULATIONS

GUIDANCE FOR PRODUCERS OFFICIAL REQUIREMENTS RESPONSIBILITY OF FARMERS DT TAN No. I. Ever sine© the dairy industry attained a position of national importance it has been guided and governed by official regulations. With the passage of time changes and improvements in methods and equipment have necessitated the redrafting of existing rules, and the imposing of entirely new ones to cover the use of improved plant and new devices.

An illustration of this is afforded by the recent adoption—in considerable numbers —of small Diesel engines to drive milking plants in areas not supplied with electrical energy. The fact that this engine emits some offensive odours has made the drafting of a new regulation imperative. Notwithstanding alterations from time to time certain standard requirements are not interfered with and I propose to discuss these before dealing with the moro recent ones. Also, it should bo noted that this study is concerned chiefly with those regulations which apply to the production of butterfat on the farm, and does not embrace others which cover the operations of dairy factories and town milk suppliers. The Private Dairy It may bo well in passing, however, to notice tbat a recent summary in the press of some new regulations defined the activities of the private dairy the operations of which are restricted to tho supply of milk or cream produced from a herd of cows, depastured on the farm, whoso average number, in any one month, does not exceed 50. This refers to a private manufacturing dairy not making for export. Should the number exceed 50 it becomes necessary to licence the building as an exporting dairy factory. Tho powers of an inspector appointed under the Dairy Industry Act, 1908, and its amendments, are very wide, but, exercised with a wise discretion, the dairy farmer has nothing to fear on this account. Drafted by experienced and competent officers the regulations are designed to assist suppliers in producing the highest quality milk and cream for delivery to the factories. They should be regarded as valuable aids to quality rather than as irksome restrictions on effort.

The milking shed and plant are naturally the subject of many regulations. The aspect of the building should be northerly, or such as to ensure the maximum amount of sunshine, in its open part, during the day. Surroundings must be kept clean and tidy, requisite distances from the shed being specified in respect of the following objects:—Pigs, 50 yards; and fowlhouses, manure heaps, cesspools or closets, 30 feet. Drainage from any of these must not flow within five yards of the dairy, ■which means the milking shed and yards. An adequate supply of good, pure water must be provided, also, an efficient apparatus for boiling the water, or turning it into steam, must be installed and maintained near the milking machine. s

The Milking Machine The installation of a milking machine is regulated very closely, this being necessary because of the important part it plays in the production of finest butter-fat. Design and assembly must conform to the following rules: The releaser and vacuum tank shall be connected by short, removable pipes, the vacuum tank being in two parts of equal diameter. Air and milk pipes must be tinned inside and no iron piping, whether galvanised or not, can be used in tho releaser, vacuum, or air systems. All this piping shall e as straight as possible and shall have sufficient fall for drainage purposes. No used milking plant shall be erected, or no alterations made without a permit from an officer of the Dairy Division. Persons erecting a new plant must notify the officer forthwith. The releaser and vacuum tank must be in the open air, or in a room other than that used for milking. It must be separated from the latter by a draught-proof partition, or an air space two feet wide. This refers to the engine room also and provision is made for tho doors of engine and separator rooms to open into tho outside air, and not into each room or the milking shed. •Shod Equipment

A now regulation provides that where a Diesel engine is iised with a belt drive the two feet air space must be adopted. With a shaft transmission the draught-proof partition is allowed. Needless to say, no oil or steam engine shall be in the separator room, but this restriction does not apply to an electro-motor, as it is quiet and odourless in operation and does not adversely affect the atmosphere in its vicinity. Another new regulation, directs that the milk pipe between the skim milk pump and the separator shall be fitted to the pump with metal unions to facilitate dismantling for easy cleansing. The separator room must be well ventilated and lighted and provided with a floor of concrete or other suitable material impervious to liquids, the surface being finished smooth for easy cleaning, having a suitable fall for adequate drainage. Similar flooring should also bo placed in the milking shed and yard. »

Care of Milk and Oream Numerous regulations describe the manner in which milk and cream ohall bo cared for by the owners of supplying dairies. The onus of complying with the rules laid down is upon the owners, and also upon nny person having possession or custody of milk and cream on their behalf. It is stipulated that immediately milk is drawn it must bo carefully strained through some apparatus sufficient for tho purpose, and then cooled to a temperature of not more than Godeg. Fahr. by being run over a water cooler, or by standing tho containers in cold water, and be removed from tho milking shed or stockyard. A most important regulation prohibits the use of disinfectants on teats and utensils. So much harm has been done to tho quality of milk by this practice that I quote tho regulation in full: "No of any supplying dairy shall use or allow to be used on the teats of cows in milk or on dairy utensils any poisonous or markedly odorous disinfectants ouch as coa) tar derivatives."