THE FARM.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13418, 16 May 1912, Page 8

THE FARM.

PASTEURISATION

Speaking, at Glen Oroua last week Mr Cuddle said .pasteurisation had bf>en discussed more frequently in connection with dairy factory work during the past few years than any other question. A- certain amount of progross had been made, bxit some doubt still scvenied to exist in the minds of some dairy .farmers as to the practicability of tho- process. As time went on however, he .expected to see further progress made. Sonic, ten years ago b*v remembered attending a largo meeting of dairy farmers, and having the temerity -to pdveeate pasteurisation of cream for butter-making. Tho audienco did not receive the proposal very favourably, and it met with a good deal of critcism. However, ho. was not at all discouraged, because the Department had carried out experiments which had proved that tho system had a great deal to recommend it. It was not for some years after this that the first dairy factory undertook the pasteurisation of cream for butter-making. While it was continued right through the se-ason, thero were one or two points which were not considered quite satisfactory . Eventually these were overcome, and aver since that time an increasing number of dairy companies had adopted tho principle!. To-day one could count on the fingers of one hand the factories that were not pasteurising their cream for butter-making, and thei result had been a decided improvement in tho quality of the product. The Glen Oroua Co. could bear testimony to this in their own case. Reports were being received from the British market this season which spoke very highly of the quality of New Zealand butter.

Mr R-eakes said pasteurisation was a preventive of tuberculosis, a most serious disease among cattle and pigs, and a difficult one to deal with, the animals being affected before farmers knew anything about it. Many farmers sent away healthy looking pigs, but they were, afterwards condemmed. It must be remembered that if pigs suffer from tuberculosis disease, calves would also, and this meant rearing a "her-dvof xJisfeased cmv«. -It was notice-' ablo that in factories whore pasteurisation, was adopted cows and pigs were almost entirely free from tuberculosis. He quoted some striking figures in support of this statement. They should remember that every pig condemned meant a loss of say £3,. and pasteurisation would eradicate the disease and lessen the loss. Both calves and pigs did very much better on pasteurised than on non-pasteurised milk, and tho scouring so often met with in calves was almost entirely absent when the animals were fed on pasteurised milk. Looked at from a broad point of view, pasteurisation, and thereby eradication of tuberculosis, meant a benefit to the whole country, and the farmers should co-operate with the- Government in promoting pasteurisation.