MILK GRADING BY CURD TEST

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 12

MILK GRADING BY CURD TEST

SUPPORT BY LOWGARTH COMPANY DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENT OPPOSED , Mi Ik-grading was rather lengthily discussed at the annual meeting of the Lowgarth Co-operative Dairy Company yesterday after the chairman had reported upon the result of the national dairy conference at Palmerston North. The meeting favoured jmilk grading by curd test but opposed differential payments. Mr. A. (Picard, the -farm dairy instructor, was appealed to on the question. “If the curd test was used 1 say definitely that it is possible to improve the milk,” he eaid. .The curd test was a very good method, Mr. Picard thought, more especially as it often pointed to defects in body .and flavour. One of the best points about the curd test for -the grading of milk was that advice could be obtained from the manager, and the instructor could then immediately concentrate his attention upon farms supplying second grade milk. The grading of milk was a splendid thing for the dairy industry. A supplier said his milk had been graded second, but no efforts by himself or by the instructor had been able to discover the reason. He objected to having it known that his supply was second grade when nobody could explain what was causing the trouble. Everything at his farm was perfectly clean and sanitary. After a time, but for no special reason, the milk improved and the grade rose to first grade. Mr. C. A. Ricketts said he was in favour of milk-grading but was opposed to differential payments unless the milk was tested each day can by can. That, of course, was scarcely possible. He moved that the company favoured the adoption of the curd test fc” milk grading, but opposed any system of differential payments. Mr. S. Laurence seconded the motion. When the company was seeking its new manager he spoke to several applicants on the question, said Mr. A. T. Sulzberger. He found that most of them favoured the curd test and said they could make good cheese if supplied with first grade milk. Mr. Sulzberger was satisfied that the grading of milk coupled with the work of a farm instructor was having a big effect upon the production of clean pure milk and was serving another purpose in that it was educating the younger generation to observe scrupulous cleanliness in and about the milking sheds. The motion was adopted, and it was agreed to retain the services of the instructor for the ensuing year. Mr. J. A, Adams (manager) was

questioned concerning the value of milkgrading and the curd test. From the managers’ point of view, he said, the curd test was undoubtedly the best, for it gave a clear idea of what the vats would contain; moreover, it was the test best known to managers. Arter speaking of the merits and demerits of the bacteriological count and the blue test, Mr. Adams said it was immaterial to the supplier which test was applied, because it was the object that mattered. That object, of course, was to supply better and purer milk. On the whole, he believed the curd test would prove the most satisfactory.