THE MILK STANDARDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14393, 7 January 1911, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE MILK STANDARDS.

A* good deal of objection is being taken to the milk standards alluded to a few weeks ago. Fresh cases have arisen in Timaru of testings falling below the standards gazetted under the j "Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1908." j As is so often the case the men of; science are opposed by the practical I producer who says that certain .things | that should take place according to I theorists turn out to be impossiblie in , actual practice. Chemists jfcell us that i a certain percentage of milk solids, including butter fat, can be maintained by the farmer and dairyman. It has. been proved, that with certain cows, and in certain seasons these standards cannot be maintained. It must be admitted that the standards set by the officers oh the Agricultural Department can and (should be maintained as an average, but it must also • be admitted that in certain seasons, and with certain cows they cannot be so maintained. It may happen, and I suppose it has happened,, that prosecutions have followed the failure, of an individual cow to respond to the milk standard, though the whole herd, taken as a whole may do so. All sorts: of things may make a cow fall below the standard, even' a good cow. Under rough treatment, irregular milking, sudden changes in weather, and so oil, : the test may vary very considerably. In times of drought the milk is likely to'be deficient in solids. In England the standard is fixed at 3 per cent, of fat, and 8.5 per cent, of solids, not fat. There seems to be a good deal of evidence from various countries to show* that the standard of 3.25 per cent, of butter fat is_ a difficult one to main- ■ tain at all times. " While it would be undesirable to do anything in the direction of unduly lowering the standard, and helping the unprofitable cow to remain in the herd, there is no sense in harassing farmers and dairymen by fixing a standard that the * cow cannot maintain*