THE ART OF MILKING.

Northern Advocate, 21 January 1888, Page 4

THE ART OF MILKING.

Milking is an art that cannot be acquired by everybody, for in our opinion one nlust have a special liking and aptitude for the work, otherwise it will be done in a careless and perfunctory manner that will not redound to the advantage of either the cow or the owner. A good milker will do his work as quietly quickly, and thoroughly as possible. A calf does not take many minutes to strip a cow, and hand milking should approach nature in this respect as much as possible. If the cow is in a calm and peaceful frame of mind she gives down her milk freely and fully, and the quicker it is drawn from her the better, for if the operation be delayed by gossiping the muscles of the milk vessels are contracted after a time and the flow of the milk is checked. If, on the other hand, the cow has been frightened or agitated by ill-treatment or over-driving, not only will the quantity suffer, but the quality also will be affected, and if the milk be mixed with that of other cows the whole may be deteriorated by the illusage on the part of the milker.