STANDARDISATION OF MILK.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 150, 16 September 1926, Page 7

STANDARDISATION OF MILK.

FOR CHEESEMAKING. ! Tatua Tests Too High. It was urged at the annual meeting of the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company on Wednesday that the Government be requested to formulate a system of standardisation of milk for cheesemaking so that factories with very high tests would be able to make a better-quality cheese. In introducing the subject, Mr. W. R. Lowry (retiring chairman of directors) said he thought the Government would soon bring about steps to attain this end. He said it was generally recognised that the milk which averaged 3.7 in test made the best cheese. Tatua’s milk averaged 4 per cent, of butterfat. Mr. P. S. Philpott : That means we will have to do away with the Jerseys. Mr. Lowry said they were really losing by having more Jerseys in their herds. Last season Tatua’s test was 4 per cent, and the previous season 3.9 per cent. The Associated Dairy Association had not formulated any scheme and eventually the GovernI ment would have to take action. By ; standardisation Tatua suppliers would | get a payment of another.-Id per f j pound butterfat over the whole seaj son. He thought if the Minister were j a live man he would do something in I this matter. I Mr. Luxton said the Government would not move unless it was forced to and he would like to see the meet- , ing take some action that day. J Mr. Luxton said that if the factory I could standardise its milk to a 3.8 test the farmers would be able to pay for the manure which came into the * district. \ Mr. W. Darrall said the difficulties in bringing about standardisation were hardly recognised. He did not think any move would come from the Government ; any action taken would have to be on the part of the farmI ers. He had come to the conclusion | that any small move in approaching the Government in a weak way would be abortive. The associated dairy companies would have far more J chance of being bucfcessful, but he was not sure that action by even this I body would be - ’effective'at*this juncj ture. There should be no objection to standardisation as the cheese could be tested for butterfat content. To hope for success M they ’wduld' 1 have - t6 organise thefr forces and 'present a strong case. He did not think any action in this ‘ reject would antagonise the breeders. The factory was losing money at present by the manufacture of an inferior article. Mr. J. Hart was doubtful if standardisation would ever 1 cotne about, as he was doubtful ’if *s' per cent.' milk, skimmed down to 3.8 per cent, would be good for cheesemaking. A supplier referred'to Taranaki experiments in respect to determining ' the best milk for cheesemaking, i Mr. Lowry suggested that the South Auckland Dairy Association be asked to organise agitation through higher channels in order to bring pressure to bear on the Government to prepare a scheme of standardisation. Mr. "Woodley : Before anything is done we should have absolute proof that this thing is right. s Mr. Lowry : As far as proof is T concerned, we have it here in our own factory. Mr. J. Baker : And more so on this year’s balance-sheet than on the last. Our test is going up and we are losing money. Mr. Darrall moved that Mr. Lowry should approach the South Auckland Dairy Association on the matter of standardising milk for cheesemaking. I Mr. Philpott seconded the motion, ; which was carried unanimously.