118 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



MARKET MILK INVESTIGATIONS. 



The work of the market milk section has undergone a considerable 

 change. Much less inspection work has been done in cooperation with 

 cities and more investigational work has been accomplished. The 

 cities are now better equipped to handle inspection for themselves, 

 and much of the standardization work can be carried on by corre- 

 spondence. 



DAIRY SANITATION. 



At Hyattsville, Md., a survey was made of the milk supply in which 

 8 dairies were inspected and 45 samples of milk taken for analysis. 

 A report was made to the health officer with recommendations for a 

 new ordinance and its proper enforcement. At Baltimore, Md., in- 

 struction was given local inspectors in the bacteriological examina- 

 tion of empty milk cans. 



At Grove City, Pa., an effort was made to obtain a better quality 

 of milk supply for use in making Swiss cheese. The milk from 11 

 farms producing high-grade milk was selected for making experi- 

 mental cheese, and all cheese made was satisfactory. Later it was 

 decided to make cheese from milk of all producers desiring to try 

 for the bonus for high-quality milk. During a period of 13 days, 

 when 33 cheeses were made, 26 were of good quality. The improve- 

 ment in quality of milk obtained led to further work along this line. 

 A survey of the farms made at that time provides a permanent record 

 of conditions, facilities, and resources available. 



» MILK -PLANT MANAGKMENT. 



A milk-plant specialist visited Dubois, Pa., Norfolk, Va., Wil- 

 liamsport. Pa., Strasburg, Va., and Grove City, Pa., where assistance 

 was given in plant operation and in the selection of suitable sites 

 and equipment for new plants. Assistance was also given by corre- 

 spondence with regard to the construction, management, and equip- 

 ment of 37 milk plants. Plans for milk plants were sent to 20 ad- 

 dresses, and information on cooperative milk plants was furnished 

 in response to five inquiries. Arrangements were made to obtain 

 the cooperation of milk plants in five cities for study of labor re- 

 quirements. 



BEQUIEEMENTS FOR MILK PRODUCTION. 



Field work in Delaware on the requirements for producing milk 

 was completed and the data were tabulated and prepared for pub- 

 lication. With the investigations in seven States now completed, 

 studies will be made of all the data collected. The studies have 

 shown a definite relation between feed cost of a dollar's worth of 

 milk and profit. Those dairymen whose feed costs were below 50 

 cents for each dollar's worth of milk produced generally made a 

 profit; those with feed costs between 50 and 65 cents were in the 

 danger zone, and those above 65 cents were generally operating 

 at a loss. A summary of the herd "records from seven States shows 

 that the greatest yearly net profit of an;y dairyman was $5,513.45. 

 Twenty per cent of the dairymen sustained losses ranging from 

 $113.55 to $1,988.84 a year. 



