HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 2090, 27 September 1899, Page 1

HINTS FOR DAIRYMEN.

A practical dairyman, writing to the Melbourne Leader, say£ :- Feed the cows liberally on wholesome, succulent food, give them pure water to drink, treat them with kindness, adopt dry milking, wash the udders and teatß before milking, get the milking done as quickly a$ possible, taking care that it is properly done, cool the milk dawn to as low a temperature as possible, and observe the strictest cleanliness m regard to everything counected with the cOws, the milking shed and the dairy. These are Bonie of tho duties that belong exclusively to the farmer, and the neglect of any one of them cannot fail to have a prejudicial effect upon the quantity and quality of th 9 butter. Pure, raw material must be supplied to the factory mmager or he cmnot, uo matter how great his skill may be, produce a first-class article. The onus of providing the pure raw material rests upon the farmer, and he should take every preciution to carry out his portion of the contract m a thoroughly satisfactory manner Tbe haalth of cows, what they eat and drink, and the treatment, whether kind or otherwise, to which they are subjected, affects the milk before it is drawn from iho uddors. 1 1 is therefore of the greatest importance to pay special attention to the welfare of tho animals, and see that they are provided with plenty of suitable food and pure water. Milk contains a very large percentage of water, and if thu is foul when absorbed by the cow it will not be pure when yio'.ded up to the milke*. Yet so little regard h paid to providing a pura bupply of water that cjws are compelled to drink liquid that is full of disease germs. Abundance of wholesome, succulent fodder should be provided. The milking houi'3 should be regular, and the cows driven quietly.