THE VALUE OF EFFICIENT MILKING

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2672, 5 May 1925, Page 7

THE VALUE OF EFFICIENT MILKING

A dairyman recently remarked that he believed thousands of pounds were lost every year owing to inefficiency on the part of milkers. It was pointed out that In one herd, cows which at one time gave their milk down very freely, had, through slow milkers, contracted the habit of holding up their milk and giving it down very slowly. Tests have proven that milking should be done quickly and quietly; and that the last drop should be removed from the udder. If milk is left in the udder, the cow soon learns to secrote that amount less, with the result that there is a dropping off in the yield. Undue disturbance during the milking hour also the milk flow. It has also been noticed that a cow learns when her turn comes, and if she is milked out -of turn she shows her displeasure by nervous actions. Then, too, the cow should be milked at the same hour and by the same person each day. It is siyprising the difference in milk yield, especially with certain cowswhen there is a chance in milkers. Not only does the milk, yield drop, but there Is a material lowering in the percentage of hmtter-fat. It'is generally believed that there will be considerably more milk secreted with quick milking than with slow milking.. If this is the case, a dairyman must be as,.particular about the milking as ho s in regard to the selection and feeding of his herd. A poor milker will miickly offset any advantage gained through good feeding. It might pay many dairymen to give a little more attention to the milking end of their business.