PRODUCTION OF SANITARY MILK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 8

PRODUCTION OF SANITARY MILK.

INTERESTING EXPERIMENTS. Tho great, problem in the production of sanitary'milk is to exclude bacteria, and it is commonly understood that to prevent contamination of tho milk, the cowshed, milk utensils, and the milker must bo kept as clean as possible, and that tho sheds should bo so constructed that they may.be easily and thoroughly cleaned. Tho air of th 6 shed should bo as free from dust as possible when milking is going on. Kccently, according to Canadian files, the Virginia Station has determined the number af bactcria' and the relative importance of observing these and other precautions taken to avoid contamination. By actual count, it was found that sprinkling the' straw- bedding, so as to prevent dust and bacteria from arising, t.ho percentage of bactcria in the milk was reduced 53 per cent. A reduction of 25 per cent, was secured when a closed pail was used in milking as compared with an open pail. Ahout 23 per cent, of'the bacteria were eliminated when tho flanks of the well-cleaned cows were moistened before milking. Discarding the first four shippings from each teat was also of soiiio importanco in reducing the bacterial count. These four precautions—sprinkling the bedding, moistening the flanks of tho. cow, using a closed pail and discarding the first strippings'—can be observed without any appreciable expense, and no dairyman can afford to neglect them. An experiment was also conducted by the same station to test the relativo value of straw and sawdust as betiding. The stable was bedded half with straw and half *ith sawdust. By actual count there was average of more than twice as many bactcria when straw was used as when sawdust was used. On I he' other hand, sawdust is of little value as a manure, and to somo extent detracts from the vo.lne of tho droppings of the cows, while straw is a good absorbent and has valuo of its own as a fertiliser. Dairy farmers must have strong, serviceable, and easily-cleaned cans. Victor is tho name of tho can that suits every requirement, and it pays handsomely to use tliesa cans and no others. Evory lid will fit every can. Send for a catalogue to Albert J. Parton, Carterton. * Keports from the back-country indicate that the winter poisoning of rabbits has teen fairly successful in the Masterton f district. Excepting in cortain favoured | spots, the pest now appears to be well under control.

Chick-roaring is not only profitable, Ijut a, pleasure, when you feed "A. and IV Chick Raiser. It is a complete and properly-blended food for Young Chicks. Obtainable from all storekeepers,—Advt,