PASTEURISATION OF SKIM MILK.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 12, 26 May 1911, Page 4

PASTEURISATION OF SKIM MILK.

SUCCESSFUL TRIALS. " The question of pasteurising skim milk at dairy factories is one which is exercising the minds of a great many of the dairy companies throughout the Dominion, and it would seem that special plants will be installed for carrying on this work at the majority of the factories in the near future," says Mr D. Cuddie, State director of dairy produce, in an article in the "Agricultural Journal," and he therefore proceeds to give some information about the subject. Dealing with the experiments conducted by his Division, Mr Cuddie says : —" With a view to encouraging the extension of this principle, by obtaining and disseminatinginformation regarding the working and cost of the process, and the effect of the treated

skim milk upon the stock to ! which it was fed, negotiations were entered into at the beginning of last season by the Dairy Produce Division with the Glen Oroua Dairy Company, whereby permission was obtained from the company to install'a plant on a somewhat large scale, capable of dealing with 1200 to 1400 gallons of skim milk per hour. One of the largest-sized pasteurisers was purchased, and fitted up early in the season, when the work was commenced. The machine was connected with the exhaust pipe from the engine as well as with a direct steam pipe from the boiler. At the commencement it was found that more or less trouble was experienced in connection with the milk foaming after it was heated. The capacity of the skim milk tank was not sufficient, and the company gave an order for one of a larger size. Various appliances for dealing with the froth were experimented with, and this trouble was eventually overcome.

" The pasteurisation has been carried on for nearly seven months; the quantity of milk handled daily has reached 3500 gallons.; and after separatian the skim milk is heated to I76deg. at the rate of 1250 gallons per hour. As an economical factor in the working of the process, it may be mentioned that the exhaust steam from the engine, which is also used for heating the water for use. in the factory, is sufficient to i aise the temperature of the milk to I4odeg. This being the case, it is necessary to use only sufficient live steam to heat the milk from that temperature to I76deg., the amount of extra fuel needed being thus reduced to a minimum. The plant is easy to keep in order and the time spent in cleaning it after use is not great. Altogether it can be said that the pasteurisation of the skim-milk at this factory has proved a thorough success, and it is' intended to continue it under the control of the Division until the end of the season. It is then likely that the company will undertake the work on their own account, and possibly instal plants at their several branches."