FACTS ABOUT MILCH COWS.

Northern Advocate, 21 January 1888, Page 4

FACTS ABOUT MILCH COWS.

The habit some cows have of holding vi» the milt is a difficult one to overcome. -L. B. Arnold accounts for this hab« by the following explanation :—lt consists m shortening the time of relaxation of the cords controlling the valres to the little reservoirs holding the iailk. These are distributed through tbe udder, and there are several circumstances which tend to make a cow shorten this relaxation. Rough treatment, fear, grief, solitude, loud noises, &c, are among them. The circumstances inducingaprolongation of the relaxation are comfort and quietude, together with relief afforded by the flow of milk. The best way, according to the authority quoted from, is to avoid all occasion of disturbance and observe those which promote pleasure and quiet for the cow and to milk as rapidly as possible, consistent with comfort, with a view of getting the milk before the "letting down " ceases. Milking rapidly does not mean jerking sharply or moving with hasty or irregular motions in the presence of the cow. Such a course would counteract the very thing aimed at. The motions ot the milker should not be such as to attract her suspicions. They should be deliberate and cool, but when sitting down to the milking, let nothing interrupt or retard the work. This will induce continual letting down, by giving relief to the udder. The milker should bear- constantly in mind the fact that the letting down is short, and that every movement should be availed of to the best advantage. When the milk ceases to flow, the milking should stop at once whether the milk is all out or not. There is no use hanging on after it stops coming as this only cultivates and confirms the habit of •' holding back." To give a cow the least possible occasion for holding back her milk is the best way to prevent her forming such a habit, and the surest and readiest way to make her forget it after it has been formed. To break up the objectionable habit let the milking be quick, but easy and regular.—Breeders Journal.