BULLETIN 973, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



RECEIVING MILK AT THE PLANT. 



The milk as received from producers, directly or through country 

 cooling plants, is usually brought to the plant in trucks, either from 

 the railroad station or directly from the country. These trucks are 

 unloaded at the receiving platform; the milk is graded and dumped, 

 and the cans are washed and returned to the trucks, so that they can 

 go back to the producer to be fiUed again with milk. 



All milk should be received at the plant in the morning, if possible. 

 It is usually desirable to have it all in before noon, so as to avoid 

 hauling during the heat of the day, and so that the work of receiving 

 at the plant may be completed in good season each day. 



Fig. 1. — Portion of receiving room, showing scales of overhead-lever type, vs^eigh can, conveyer on 

 which cans are conveyed to wash room, and fan to blow flies away from the milk. 



The milk-plant manager is responsible for the quality of the milk 

 put out at the plant, and he must therefore direct that' the milk is 

 properly cared for at the farm where it is produced. One of the most 

 important points in this connection is that of keeping the milk cool. 

 Producers should be instructed to use ice early in the spring to cool 

 the milk. Usually more sour milk is received at the plant in the 

 spring and fall than during the summer, because producers fail to 

 realize the importance of coohng at these times, and do not begin 

 to use ice early enough nor continue its use late enough. 



The manager can help to have the milk arrive at the plant in good 

 condition by having it brought to the plant immediately on arrival at 

 the railroad station, and when it reaches the plant it should be sent 

 immediately to the pasteurizer or kept in a cool place until it is 

 pasteurized. No milk should be allowed to remain in a warm 

 receiving room. 



