THE DAIRY REGULATIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6624, 14 September 1908, Page 3

THE DAIRY REGULATIONS.

NECESSARY JtEQE IHEMENTS. tub race question. Tile anxiously awaited <lpV'^.i'.'L'i'iU They t^be'fu' Jo £ deretaud —ami the coiiimiUeu i.s to can evidence to assist it. iu an-tvmg aj, ;■ conoinsion on tho subject. tn coiismt i ing the rctfiiliititms it has to )C ‘ ull V ‘ bored that they wore i-anitd toi tu. purpose of ensuring a clotu.er n.Uk euyply for tho dairy lactones ot tho Do. ammo As to tile premises on farms '.vhere jnilfc is produced for city consumption tho old dairy regulations were quite sutfioient for this purpose. Ami anotl.ei fact to bo remembered is that tho new 10gulations have been drafted with .the object of presenting model conditions, u being recognised that all dairymen will not bo able bo moot the requirements at once and in Bomo localities will only bo able to meet thorn in a modified mantier. Farmers should know by now that tho general work of inspection of tho Department has not been conducted on tho principle of strict conformity to the loiter of regulations; and that where the farmer is doing his best to meet tho object in view ho is never interfered with. Milk producer© have everything to gain and nothing to lose by tho regulations being adopted in their entirety, in Saturday's issue of tho "Times" some of tho main points in tho regulation were given. Wo give below some of fche moat discussed requirements in full. THE BADE. Every cowshed in which more than six’ cows are to be milked at either the morning or evening milking, .and which is not provided with sufficient stalling accommodation to hold all the cows at ono time, shall have either—(i.) A yard, sufficiently large to hold all the cow© brought in at any one time for milking, attached thereto but divided therefrom by v a partition or fence, tho floor of such yard to bo properly concreted or paved; or (ii.) A yard of such dimensions ns aforesaid situated at least 30 feet from such cowshed and connected therewith by a race tho floor of which is properly concreted or paved. It will b© seen that no reference whatever ia made to tho width of the race. If cost of concrete is tho main consideration, the Taco need only bo 2 feet 10 ins wide. SHED REQUIREMENTS. Whore, cow© are stalled over night tho air-pace in tho shed for each animal shall not be loss than GOO cubic feet. Tho floor shall be of an even surface, and formed of concrete or other material impervious to water. A suitable gutter shall bo provided and connected with the outlet-drain. Tho inside of tho wall© and roof of every cowshed shall .bo thoroughly swept at least onco a month. Such ©weeping shall be finished at least two hours before milking in the shed commence©. Tho inside of tho walls and all Internal woodwork of every cowshed shall be thoroughly coated with whitewash, and bo recoated (being first scraped if necessary) dn a similar manner during tho first week in July and January in each year, or oftener .if directed by the Inspector. AH manure and other offensive matter shall bo removed at least 30 feet, from every cowshed within two hours after each milking, and tho floor thoroughly cleansed. No building used for milk shall bo within 80. feet, or if on the leeward side (with respect to the prevailing wind), then within 60 feet of any cowshed, stock-yard, or any other building, tho contents of which would bo likely to contaminate dairy-pro-duce, or within 50 yard© of any piggery. No cowshed, stock-yard shall bo within 80 feet of any source of contamination or within 50 yards of any piggery. No open water-supply of any dairy shaft bo within 50 yard© of any piggory. No cowshed shall bo within 30 feet of any dwelling house, except when within tho boundaries of tho borough. When it shall not bo within 100 feet of a house, street, or other property. Every building whore milk is kept shall bo properly constructed, lighted, ventilated, cleansed, and drained ; and no such building shall b© connected by a covered drain with any liquid-manure tank or other place into which any offensive matter is discharged, or with any sewer, unless such drain or sower io pro?erly constructed, trapped, and venilated. THE WATER SUPPLY. The provisions for maintaining a supply of epuro water, the groat essential In a dairy farm, aro as follows: Every dairy shall bo provided with a

sufficient supply of pure water for watering tlie stock. No liouid m.inuro or othrr on.nfcimatter shall be allowed to «w mto any watercourse or other place whereby the water-supply of stock v.i likely to be contaminated. Every cowshed shall bo provided wiUi a sufficient sunnly for washing the milkers’ hands." for cleansing the floor of the shod, and for such other purposes ns may be necessary. CI.EANbINBSS IN MILKING. Strict rules are laid down in regard to cleanliness in handling milk, rules, however, which should present no dilii- ■ iilty of fulfilment. Every person while employed in the handling of milk in or about a dairy shall at all times Keep his person clean, and wear suitable and clean clothing. Every person shall on every occasion

before commencing to miik or fco haredle milk in or about a dan} thor wash his or her hands, and j,train wash them after milking each No°(Porson shall draw milk, nor shall any dairyman permit any milk to no drawn, from any cow. until the under and teats ot such cow have been thoroughly cleansed. _ No dairyman shall place, or allow to bo placed, in any milk-house or cowshed anything of a character likely to endanger tho purity or milk. Every dairyman shall immediately after milking—Strain all milk through an approved strainer; -where tho milk is not immediately separated, cool it by a method approved by tho inspector; whore the milk is immediately separated. forthwith cool the cream by a method approved by tho inspector. No milk shall bo cooled, separated, or stored in any cowshed, milking-yard, or stock-yard, or within 30ft theroEvery dairyman shall, immediately after tho milk or cream is cooled, keep it iu a cool place, and at all times thereafter while it is in his possession securely cover it, and protect it from tho sun's rays. Every bucket, can, or other utensil used in tho handling of milk or cream in or about any dairy shall bo cleansed by first rinsing with cold water, and then washing with warm water, scrubbing with a brush, and scalding with steam or boiling water, and shall then, bo allowed to drain in a position fully exposed to the air. Such cleansing and airing must bo done at a distance of not less than 30ft from any cowshed, milking-yard, stock-yard, or other place where such utensils would be likely to become contaminated. A number of sub-clauses deal with the time when tho cleansing shall take place. Buckets, etc., used in milking shall bo cleansed within two hours of milking; cars used for storing milk on the farm within an hour of being emptied; and cans used for convoying milk to factory or for retail purposes, within two hours. In the case of milk cans used for carting back skim-milk or whey they shall bo immediately emptied and cleaned. Tho joints of all tinware shall bo properly soldered, and shall not b© used if there is any appearance of rust. When on inspector forbids the use of any tinware ho may impress into it a Government brand, and thereafter such tinware shall not bo used. All cans must bear a label having tho owner's name thereon. MILKING MACHINES AND SEPARATORS. Provision is made for thoroughly cleaning and scalding all rubber and other parts which comes in contact with milk of milking machines and separators. HOT WATER MUST BE PROVIDED. It is laid down that ©very dairyman shall provide facilities for boiling tho water necessary to enable him to fully comply with the provisions of theso regulations. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. The milk producer must keep his milk conveyance clean to tho satisfaction of tho inspector, and must have his name legibly painted on such conveyance. DISEASE. A strict regulation is provided in regard to those handling milk being iu good health. It is declared that no milk shall bo solo or fed to animals which has come front a cow in an unhealthy condition, or dispose of or give away milk from a cow until four days after calving. No dairy premises may be used for

iiKX/Uipali bl(; wilii tl)f‘ clfonli wiuLbmL’f ivLwAiJ or luilk-hoifc-;i ; ,i ;f within fii'iy yards of such pre

No vehicle uwl for carriage of nulk ma» ho used for purposes which may leau to contamination of the milk.

i’I'KAL. Provision is made for the dairyman to upucal to tiio Chief Inspector pi Ktofl., Wellington, in the event ot a dispute iu regard to the limeivashing of tho interior of the shed, which must ho done to tlie satisfaction of the inspector, mil the method of cooling milk or cream which must Oe carried out in a manner unproved i,■ y tlie inopector.

The appeal to the emeu jnsnector of Slock, it will he wen, is in cases where work lias to he done to the satisfaction of the inspector. This giving of discretionary power to the dairy inspector is a wise provision. There will he many caw.-, where the milk .producer will not ho able to adhere strictly to the regulations. Tlie inspector, having full knowledge of the circumstances, will ho able to make, the necessary allowance, and if ho sees that the farmer is doing his best under the circumstances- it will 1,0 his duty to approve of the conditions. Latitude to an inspector is necessary in « work which it i> desired to make edtculional rather than coercive.