DAIRY INDUSTRY

DAIRY INDUSTRY. The United States dairy industry did not exist before 1857. Cows were kept primarily to provide the farm family with milk cheese and butter. Extra production of these was sold as a sideline. Extra milk was hauled by the farms to retailers or directly to the consumers. Unsold milk was brought back to the farm for farm purposes. (1)

The development of the Gail Borden "condensery" created the industry. Providing a steady outlet for milk produced by farmers, Borden encouraged them to focus on milk production as a main source of income. In 1859, the first year of record-keeping, there was 8.5 million dairy cows in the United States. By 1957 this had risen to 23 million cows. (2)

Milk consumption rose from 70 pounds per person in 1859 to 356 pounds in 1956. Cheese consumption rose from 2.9 pounds in 1859 to 8 pounds in 1956. There was no canned milk production in 1859 and by 1956 this had risen to 15.5 pounds. Ice cream, a dish of the wealthy in 1859, had increased to an annual consumption of 630 million gallons or 3.5 gallons per person. (3)

In 1857 Borden issued dairy rules which today make for interesting reading. (4)

1. Abuse not the Cow, and at all times treat the Cow gently and kindly, securing her confidence and allowing no one to molest her or make her afraid.

2. Starve not, nor stint the Cow for food, but nourish her with an abundance of that which is palatable and food, that she may keep in good flesh, have a smooth coat and clear eye.

3. Allow not the Cow to be deprived of a plentiful supply of clean water to drink, nor to frequent mud holes or stagnant pounds, but give to her an abundance of water kept clean enough for your own use.

4. Give to the Cow ample sheds in summer, and warm shelter in winter, kept clean and sweet and with all well ventilated; and deprive not the Cow opportunity for such exercise as she may desire.

5. Milk the Cow in a cool and clean place at all times, when she is not heated or fretted, but does stand quiet and chew her cud; clean the Cow's bag, milk her gently and allow not dirt in the milk pail.

6. Keep you everything about the stable and dairy house scrupulously clean with thorough cleansing and scalding all paraphernalia which be used in the transport of dairy products or the making thereof.

7. Cool you the milk as soon as it be drawn from the Cow, but put not cold water or ice in it in violation of the law, but bring you the milk in contact with a cool surface above the freezing point.

8. Water not the milk either by mixing it directly with water nor by feeding the Cow on villainous slops, whey, or extremely succulent food, thereby the contents of the milk can small be increased in quantity at the expense of quality.

9. Skim not the milk by taking the cream that does rise in the can overnight that you have cream for coffee, nor by setting it in pans overnight, nor by saving strippings.

10. Defile and corrupt not the milk with burnt sugar, chalk, salt, soda, or any ingredient or compound whatsoever; nor by giving vile stuffs to the Cow, nor by any means, trick, device or process known or unknown to the naturally depraved. The laws of the State, the health of the community, the lives of the people and the Kingdom of Heaven cry out against this unpardonable sin.

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Source:

1. "A Century in Industry," Telegraph Herald, June 11, 1957, p. 20

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.