Milk churn

Milk churn is a tall, conical or cylindrical container for the transportation of milk. It is sometimes referred to as a milk can. Milk churns were a common way of transporting milk from the farm to a dairy in days gone by.

History

The use of the milk churn began in the late 19th century when the dairy farming industry was becoming more industrialized. Prior to this, milk was usually stored in wooden buckets or similar containers. The introduction of the milk churn allowed for easier transportation and better preservation of the milk.

Design

A typical milk churn is a tall, conical or cylindrical container with a lid. The churn is usually made of galvanized iron or steel and has a carrying handle. Some churns have a separate lid while others have a hinged lid. The size of a milk churn can vary, but a common size is around 17 gallons (about 64 liters).

Use

Milk churns were used to transport milk from the farm to the dairy. The churns would be filled with milk, then loaded onto a cart or truck and taken to the dairy. At the dairy, the milk would be poured out of the churns and into a large vat for processing.

Decline

The use of milk churns declined in the mid-20th century with the introduction of bulk milk tanks. These tanks allowed for the milk to be stored and transported in larger quantities, reducing the need for individual churns. Today, milk churns are often used as decorative items or for other non-dairy purposes.

See also

• Dairy farming
• Milk
• Bulk tank