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The Secret of Milk Preservation: How did early farmers prolong the freshness of milk?
Milk is one of the important food sources for humans, and the development of its preservation technology is undoubtedly important to agriculture and food safety. From early farmers' manual milking to modern automated milking technology, the freshness of milk has undergone significant changes. And what is the secret behind the preservation technology to prolong the freshness of milk?
The preservation of milk is closely related to the ambient temperature, humidity and the growth rate of bacteria.
The history of milk and the development of preservation technology
The domestication of dairy cows dates back about 12,000 years, with the earliest evidence of milk production appearing in Asia Minor in 7000 BC. Over time, farmers have found different ways to increase the shelf life of milk. With the use of refrigeration technology and groundwater in the 19th century, farmers began to realize that low temperatures could effectively prolong the freshness of milk.
Natural cooling technology
Before the advent of electricity and modern refrigeration, farmers used windmills and well pumps to provide cooling water to extend the storage time of milk. At that time, they would place the heated milk in a cooling tank and use running cold water to keep the milk at a low temperature. The advantage of this approach is that it is easy to implement and can utilize local resources.
Ice cooling technology
With the advancement of refrigeration technology, the use of ice cooling equipment became popular. This equipment can effectively and quickly cool freshly squeezed milk to a safe storage temperature. Although the early ice bin systems were effective, as milk production increased, the demands became increasingly difficult to meet. As a result, many large dairy farms have turned to direct expansion cooling systems and plate heat exchangers.
The plate heat exchanger utilizes a stainless steel plate design to remove heat from milk in a very short time, effectively reducing bacterial growth.
The rise of modern milking technology
With the rise of large-scale farms, early manual milking was gradually replaced by automated milking systems. Milking machines in the early 20th century and later vacuum systems significantly improved milking efficiency. These technologies not only reduce farmers' workload, but also promote the increase of milk production.
Environmental impacts and animal welfare challenges
While technological advances have facilitated the production and preservation of milk, they have also brought environmental challenges. Farms often face waste discharge issues such as manure disposal on large farms and air pollution from methane gas. In addition, the welfare of dairy cows has gradually attracted attention, and most animal rights activists have expressed concerns about the high-density farming model.
Future Development
With the rapid pace of science and technology, milk preservation technology will continue to evolve in the future. The development of automation and robotics technology may liberate farmers' labor while improving the quality and preservation efficiency of milk. How farmers can find a balance between production and environmental protection is still a topic worth pondering.
Although modern technology has made it easier to keep milk fresh, have we neglected our responsibilities to the environment and animals?
The freshness of milk is related to the health and well-being of every consumer. Facing the future, how can we enjoy technological progress while also shouldering environmental responsibilities?
