Cosulati Showed Its Dairy Progress at Its Third Anniversary

On September 26th 1976, a local newspaper described the operations of Cooperativa Sul-Riograndense de Laticínios Ltda, known as Cosulati, marking the cooperative’s third anniversary. Cosulati had been established on September 21st 1973 through the merger of Cooperativa Regional de Laticínios Pelotense, or Coolapel, founded in 1932, and Cooperativa Regional de Laticínios da Região Sudoeste do Rio Grande do Sul, or Colacti, founded in 1955.

The cooperative manufactured Danby milk and butter. Its technical department provided agronomic and veterinary assistance to producers, with work focused on pasture management, hygiene and disease control. Milk was supplied daily by about 8,000 members.

At reception, the incoming milk underwent tests for acidity. The reported acceptable range was between 13 and 18 degrees Dornic. Milk with low density, whether because of added substances or disease, was discarded immediately rather than sent for processing.

Processing and packaging

Milk that met the required standards was filtered, weighed and transferred to the processing section. Clarification removed very small impurities, after which the milk was standardised to a fat content of 3%. Pasteurisation then involved heating it to 75°C and cooling it to 4°C, a sequence described in the report as removing pathogenic germs.

Automated machinery made one-litre plastic packages and filled them with Danby milk through small openings before sealing the bags hermetically. In 1976, Cosulati produced 70,000 litres of Danby milk each day. The filled packages were placed in plastic crates and stored in cold rooms at 4°C until they were sent to retail outlets.

A fleet of trucks distributed the milk in Pelotas and in Rio Grande, Canguçu, São Lourenço do Sul, Jaguarão, Pedro Osório and Arroio Grande. The 1976 report presented the technical assistance, quality checks, temperature controls and automated packaging as parts of the cooperative’s production routine.