report of state dairy inspector. 33 



Educational. 



In view of the fact that the cities are the markets to which 

 agricultural interests necessarily have to look for the sale of 

 their products, it seems advisable that the farmers should, es- 

 sentially for the benefit of their own business comply as far as 

 possible with the wants of city consumers and restrictions of 

 the city health officials. 



The essentials in sanitary milk production are : 

 Clean and healthy cows 

 Clean stables 



Clean and healthy employees 

 Clean utensils 



Clean surroundings of milk after being drawn 

 Keeping milk at low temperature 



It is evident that cows should be clean. They should be free 

 from all dirt on their flanks and cjuarters and should be well 

 groomed to rid them of all loose hair. 



The United States Department of Agriculture has given the 

 following definition of milk : 



Whole milk is the lacteal secretion obtained by the complete 

 milking of one or more healthy cows, properly fed and kept, 

 excluding that obtained within fifteen days before and five 

 days after parturition. 



It is evident, then, from this definition alone, that the cows 

 should be free from disease and free from dirt. 



Stables can easily be kept clean if the ceiling, walls and floors 

 are tight and smooth. Hay or other dry fodder should not be 

 fed just previous to milking. Milkers should wear clean cloth- 

 ing used for no other farm operation. The milker should wash 

 his hands thoroughly and dry them before milking, and he 

 should milk with dry hands, always. 



All utensils, of course, should be kept clean. They should 

 be thoroughly scalded or steamed just previous to use. The 

 strainers, especially, should be kept clean. Often new pails or 

 cans have cracks in the joints or have square corners where 

 dirt and, consequently, filth may become lodged. Such places 

 can be flushed with solder to do away with this. Properly con- 

 structed narrow top pails are of a great advantage. They 

 reduce the amount of hair and dust that can fall into the milk. 



