FARM AND DAIRY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 151, 5 October 1910, Page 3

FARM AND DAIRY

PASTEURISING 'SKIM MILK. DISCUSSED BY MAXGOREI FARMERS The question of pasteurising skim-milk was discussed at Monday's meeting of suppliers of the Mamgorei Dairy Co. The question was brought forward by the following paragraph in the annual report: "The suppliers to the Mangorei creamery having requested the directors to instal a plant for pasteurising the skim-milk, you will be asked to consider the question of equipping all the creameries and central factory with such plants." The chairman said the skim-milk did (not belong to the company 'but to the suppliers. By installing pasteurising plants it would not atiVct the output in any way. If it did the directors would have no hesitation in tl-ealirig with the matter. It was a question, however, that might make a considerable dill'erence to the suppliers, so he thought it should b; discussed 1 .by them. Pasteurisation was unknown up to two years ago, and although disease amon* stock was rampant in various parts of the Dominion, no effectual measures had been taken to check or prevent its spread. The results of experiments by the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department to see if I pasteurisation would rid skim-milk of the ! disease germs contained in it had been#o 'satisfactory that a largo number of factories had gone in for it. The question, however, was in its experimental stage. There were different makes of pasteurisers and different methods of pasteurising, and also different opinions among dairymen as to its value. During the past six months Mr. Cooper, of Mangatoki, a former manager of Mangorei, had revolutionised pasteurising. His 'process did 1 it in the most effective manner, at the cheapest cost and considerably reduced temperature, so that instead' of the farmer receiving his milk at 10 to 175 degrees he could get'it back at IBS degrees, which largely minimised the risk of handling hot milk. Owing to this plant pasteurising had grown considerably in favor. There was no question that pasteurised' milk could be fed to calves and pigs without any fear of germs. In Taranaki, they were not troubled with disease to anv extent", but in some parts of the Dominion pigs were rotten with tuberculosis, so much so, that in the Wairarapa one shipment of 30' pigs was wholly condemned. The man who owned the pigs, and is a private factory owner, installed a pasteuriser, and this yeai - h«.l only 3 per-cent, condemned. Further, the Veterinary Department said that not only was the food purer, bat it was also ( better, as the process of cooking rendered it better suited for calves or pigs. The question of cost had also to be considerd. If it were installed in one- creamery it would need to foe installed in all, and the eitrht plants would cost about £450. These plants, from the- nature of their construction, used very little steam, and foe felt sure they tend 1 sufficient steam for the purpose everywhere, except, perhaps, at Lepper road, and he foreshadowed that in two yeairs' time the increased, milk supply there would YeDuildimg. , ( Mr. Row/lands considered It was inadvisable at| present to^fetal pasteurising plants. They had a lot of theory but vejy few figures OP practical experience to guide thj*m. It would be better to wait' and See/ how the method got on in other places.' Their herds were all clean. He '■'. could cite a case where pigs had been | lost that had been fed on butter-milk 1 as well as skim-milk. In many cases bad I housing of pigs and calves in wet weather was responsible. It was not fair to attribute all diseases to skim-milk. | Mr. Price thought the move premature. ; •7, ul " l }erculosi? was <Jiie as much to co]d.s (and chills as anything ek&, J Mr. Mundt, who was of opinion ;bhat jinore information was required before anything" could be done, moved that the question be deferred for twelve (months.. Mr. Sander seconded, remarking that even experts were not agreed as to the value of pasteurising. Mr. G. Herbert said that there were three chief points in favor of pasteuris-1 ing, and only one against it, viz., the cost ■ of installation. The first, point in its ,favor was that it prevented the spread) of disease. It had been proved beyond l doubt that tuberculosis was spread by means of skim-milk. He quoted statis-1 tics ir support of this contention. This district, Mr. Herbert stated, was now practically free from disease, but how long it would continue so was questionable. Tuberculosis was difficult to recognise in its early stages, and if a farmer had a doubtful cow he took it into the sale, where anyone might buy it and bring it into an otherwise clean herd. Secondly, it had been proved that calves and pigs thrived better on pasteurised milk; and, thirdly., there was a saving of labor in rearing calves, as with raw milk it was necessary to use meal, hay tea, etc. This was unnecessary with pasteurised milk. He considered the cost of installation would be amply repaid by results. He moved as an amendment that pasteurisers be installed,—Mr. Knauff seconded. Mr. Mundt did not see how skim milk could spread disease to any extent. What surprised him was how some pigs did not get it. In any case, it would be Christmas before the plants could be installed, and by that time the calves would be weaned and the pigs would have tuberculosis if they w r ere going to get it. 'Mr. Price: How will hot milk affect our cans? A voice: And our legs? Mr. Williams considered starvation a cause of disease. He suggested that any creamery should be allowed to put in a pasteurising plant if it wished. Mr. Morton did not believe in differentiating. In reply to questions, Mr. Morton said there was no doubt that diseases could be traced, to skim milk. He could not speak definitely on the subject, but was satisfied that pasteurisation was beneficial. The Government would probably make it compulsory to pasteurise, but not for a few years yet. He then read a letter from Mr. Cuddie, Director of Dairy Produce, who stated, inter alia, that he noticed the companr were discussing pasteurisation and hoped it would be carried unanimously. It would pay any dairy factory to provide facilities of this nature, as apart from the tm'm point of the spreading of diseas? among piers and calves, skim milk, after being pasteurised', possessed greater food value hv reason of its better condition when it reached the farm. Mr. Morton also instanced' the conference between heads of Departments' and factory representatives called by the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. T. Mackenzie), at which this sub-

ject was discussed. The tendency of the Department was to bring pasteurising into universal use. They didn't want to, make it compulsory, they would persuade rather than compel. Mr. Iteakes, head of the Stock Department, saTd it was absolutely necessary. The speaker, in conclusion, said that two years ago cream pasteurisation was a novelty; now it was used by every factory. The amendment was lost, and the original motion carried', so that the matter is ghelvedior this season.