AGRICULTURE

Feature 1

Subject:    Production of Milk

Text by:     Mr. Anthony Zammit Vet Support Officer (VSO)

Milking Hygiene Quality Milk Quality Milk is paid for on the basis of compositional and hygienic quality, assessed according to the fat, protein, lactose, total bacterial count (TBC), somatic cell count (SCC) content of milk. Improving milk compositonal quality will generate additional income.   Cleaning of the milking equipment system Cleaning routine Morning – After milking The external surfaces of the milking equipment, including jetters, clusters and milk pipes are washed and the plant is rinsed using ten litres of water per unit. Cold caustic cleaning solution is prepared in a suitable lidded container using the manufacturer’s recommended rate. Each unit requires 10-12 litres of this solution, which is circulated from the enclosed container around the plant for ten minutes, allowing the first eight litres to run to waste. The milk pump is then switched off and the plant is not drained. Evening – Before milking The cold cleaning solution is pumped from the plant back into the lidded container for re-use. The plant is then thoroughly rinsed with 12 litres of cold water per unit to remove caustic detergent residues. To ensure the quality of the rinse water, 25ml (two tablespoons) of sodium hypochlorite are added to each 50 litres of rinse water used. The plant is then drained in preparation for milking. Evening – After milking The morning routine is repeated, except that the cold cleaning solution collected in the enclosed container is re-used. Morning – Before milking The cold cleaning solution is pumped from the plant to waste. A fresh caustic solution should be made up each day. The plant is rinsed and drained prior to milking. Hot wash A hot wash, carried out at least once per week, is essential when using cold cleaning. A hot caustic solution, starting temperature 80oC and of similar strength to that used for cold circulation, is circulated with 200ml of sodium hypochlorite for every 50 litres (of the caustic solution) for ten minutes. The plant is rinsed afterwards with cold water, using ten litres of water per unit. To ensure the quality of the rinse water, 25ml (two tablespoons) of sodium hypochlorite are added to each 50 litres of rinse water used. Milkstone Periodic treatment of the plant with milkstone remover is essential. The required frequency of treatment will depend on the hardness of the water.   Anthony Zammit Vet Support Officer ( VSO )

Cows coming from the field and entering the collecting yard.	Cows eating total mix ration (TMR) from the yard.	At milking time the cows first enter the "Collecting yard" to wait to be milked.
Cows entering the milking parlour from the collecting yard. When they enter the parlour they are fed.	Next they are washed with warm water and dried with a disposable paper towel.	Then the teats are squeezed by hand to check the milk is ok and to see if there is any problem with the flow.  If a cow had, for example, an infection in her udder here is when the person doing the job would detect it.
Units washed and disinfected before attaching to the cow.	Then the milking unit or cluster as it is known, is put on and milking begins. This can take 2-5 minutes depending on the cow and how much milk she is giving.	The milk is released from the glass jar in which it has been temporally stored, and is pumped from parlour to the dairy.
The herringbone milking system is one of the most effective batch milking parlours available today. It offers high throughput and efficient labour usage by promoting calm, harmonious cow traffic. Milkers can work without stress and spend minimal time assisting the cows in this fully integrated parlour. The system actually supports shorter milking sessions. This means cows can spend more time eating, drinking and resting to achieve higher milk production
Automatic milk meters.	When the milk flow stops the unit is removed automatically and then dipping her teats with an Iodine solution to help protect her against any infections. Once she has finished being milked, the gate in front of her is then opened and she leaves the parlour to go back to the yard or cubical. Generally the first thing she will do is go for a drink at the water trough.
Plate cooler, large volumes of cold water run through the plate cooler in the opposite direction to the milk, resulting in warm water but cool milk leaving the plate cooler	During this time the milk is getting its final cooling in the tank and by the time I have finished cleaning out it is generally at about 3.5 degrees Celsius.	It will continue to fall in temperature and by the time it is collected it may be as low as 2 degrees.
After the process, the milk is collected.	The floor is first scraped clear of any dung (cows can be messy) and then it is washed with this hose the collecting yard is also done
Scraping the yard so cows can find clean place after they are finessed from milk.		We brush ours on but some tanks now do this automatically.
The tank is then hosed down first with clean water and then sterilizer is then applied.

EVENTS

Feature 1

Subject:    Highlights of the Holy Week in Malta

Text by:     Peter Grima

Our Lady of Sorrow
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is celebrated on Friday a week before Good Friday. The procession with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrow is held in every town and village both in Malta and Gozo. Thousands of devotes walk in procession behind the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. Some devotes walk bare-foot as a sign of penance. During the procession the Rosary and other prayers are said.
Bormla	Birgu	Birgu
Birgu	Birgu
Our Lady of Sorrow - Valletta
Rosary
	Devotees walking bare-footed as a sign of penance

NAXXAR - Exhibition by Artist Charlie Camilleri of Nadur Gozo

Zebbug - Exhibition by Joseph Sammut. Joseph Sammut of Zebbug, has been presenting this exhibition since 1987. The small statues were made by Artist Nazzareno Gauci ( id-dizma ) of Zejtun.

St. Helena Band Club, B'kara by various Artists

SAN GWANN, THE GOLGOTHA AND SMALL STATUES BY ARTIST FRANCES GRECH

ST. PIUS X BAND CLUB, LIJA
Property of the club, the small statues were made by Artists Nazzareno Gauci ( id-disma ) of Zejtun and Christian Debono who is an active club member. Besides the exhibition of the small statues, The Members of The Band Club gave a live performance of the Last Supper.

Altars of Repose
St.Paul Shipwreck Parish Church, Valletta	Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church, Balluta	Salesians Youth Club, Sliema

Maundy Thursday - Siggiewi

One of the focal places where the people congregate during Holy Week and especially on Maundy Thursday is the hill overlooking the quaint village of Siggiewi.  The meandering path leads up to the imposing iron cross crowning the hilltop and dominating the surrounding countryside. The devotees re-live the Via Crucis, which is the highlight of Christ's Passion.

Cross buns and "Qaghaq"
Cross buns and "Qaghaq" popular with the Maltese on Maundy Thursday	"Qaghaq" Paschal cake in form of a circle with almonds and sesame seeds.

Good Friday Good Friday is a day of penence fasting on this day is obligatory (as is on Ash Wednesday). Some people spent the morning visiting the 7 alters of repose to mediate and pray, while others are moving from one place to another visiting the exhibition of the Passion Our Lord. At 3 pm mass is said in all churches, at this mass the Gospel of the passion of the Christ is said and after a procession with the cross takes place in the  church followed by the kissing of the cross by the faithful. After the Mass thousands of people make it to the streets and stay asides to watch the Good Friday processions which are held in Cospicua, Luqa, Mosta, Naxxar, Paola, Qormi, Rabat, Senglea, Valletta, Victoriossa, Zebbug and Zejtun in Malta. Procession are also held in Gozo from the following parishes, Nadur, Victoria Xaghra and Zebbug. In this procession one can see various statues representing stages from the passion of Our Lord and lots of participants representing biblical figures. Some participants tight have chains to their feet and drag them all along the procession as a sign of penance or in gratitude for the grace they have received. Funeral marches are played by the local band.     Good Friday Mass at the Chapel of Saint John Bosco - Sliema
Naxxar Procession
	The two thieves who were crucified one either side of Jesus.	Melchisedech - King and Priest of Jerusalem
Naxxar Scouts	Roman Centurian
Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene
	John, Peter and James the Elder
Judas Iscariot who hanged himself	The Betrayal of Judas	Vittorja Band Club - Naxxar
		T
Vittorja Band Club - Naxxar	Vittorja Band Club - Naxxar	Roman Temple Soldiers
Barabbas - hand cufted	Barabbas guarded by a Roman Soldier
	Pilate, the Roman Governor who washed his hands from guilt
		Ecce Homo
		The two thieves
Veronica	Some participants tie heavy chains to their feet and drag them all along the procession as a sign of penance or in gratitude for the grace they have received.
Redeemer	Redeemer
Women with Spices	The Crucifix	Roman Soldiers
	Moses	Johann who was swallowed by a large fish but came out alive after 3 days
The Burial of Christ	Alter Children	Our Lady of Sorrow with Saint John

Mourning - Naxxar
Some churches are dressed in mourning during the holy week.

Half Mast Flags
Flags are kept at half Mast during the Good Friday and the Holy Saturday as a sign of Mouning.

Easter Sunday
Replica of the Shroud of Turin. The winding sheet in which Christ was dressed for his burial. This Replica of the Shroud a unique on the Maltese Islands is on permanent display at the Salesians Saint. John Bosco Chapel in Sliema.   "If Christ did not rise from the dead than your faith would have been futile..." From Saint Paul's letter to the Corinthians
	The risen Christ
The Christ resurrection from the dead is the most important event in the Christian liturgical calendar. On Easter the Churches which were dressed in the mourning for good Friday are now dressed in festive dressing and decorated like all other churches for this biggest feast. Decorations in most churches includes banners with words like "The lord has risen", "Jesus has won", "Hallelujah, Hallelujah". During the Easter Sunday mass the Blandun (a colorfully decorated Paschal candle is lit and remain so for 40 days through out the Easter Season. The gospel about the Christ about the Christ Resurrection is read. Figolli the traditional Maltese delicates which usually are in forms of lamb, duck or fish are covered with icing sugar or chocolate, so popular with children and adults alike are blessed at the end of the mass. The procession with the statue of the risen Christ is celebrated in 16 parish churches and start around 10:30am with Cospicua, Senglea and Vittoriosa attracting the biggest crowds both local and tourists. With bells ringing, band marches, fireworks the applause of the crowds and with the statue of the risen Christ being carried triumphantly "on the trot" make a spectacular and a very enjoyment Easter Celebrations.
Blandun at Our Lady of Liesse Church Valletta	The Collegiate Chuch of Saint Lawrence, Vittoriossa
Saint Lawrence Band Club, Vittoriossa
Figolli