FARM AND STATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 6

FARM AND STATION.

MERITS A\i> DANGERS OF MILIvIVG fIUHIMX Dairy-farmers in all paiis of the country are installing milking-machines mainly because of the impossibility of securing hand milkers. A condition of aftairs is thus being brought about which, unless speedily and decisively grappled with, will do vital injury to the dairy industry. The owners of cows have as a rule very little meeh-uiical knowledge; many of them have very little knowledge of the cow itself; and, most unfortunately of all, many know very little of the principles and practice of the cleanliness which should obtain in a well-regulated dairy. They have taken the machine on truet as to its being a labour-saving appliance, aji efficient extractor of milk from the cow without injury to the animal, and an assurance that milk gained by its means will be uncontaminated. They receive from the vendors of the machines some more or less hurried instructions in its manipulation, and are enjoined to keep it clean ; then they axe left to their own resources, often far away from anyone who could be turned to for advice or assistance- The Government, which the dairy-farmer has been accustomed to look to in cases of difficulty, fails him in any emergency connected with the milking-machine. True, the Departi ment of Agriculture has published reports upon the working of the machines at some of its experimental farms, but they go no iuithei than to state that the cows are satisfactorily milked by this means and were not injuriously affected in their milking organs or in their j-ield of milk. It does not appear even that the new dairy inspectors will be qualified to instruct farmers in the use of the machine, or, indeed, that this will be any part of theii duties. It is admitted that the machine h a great economiser of labour. It is asseited, however, that the use ofs the ma chine causes the cows to give a smallei yield and to dry off much eooner thai if they were milked by hand. Of this there is no conclusive evidence, nor car any be expected to be obtained -except bj the most careful experiments and observa tiona, and for these to be' carried oul dairy-farmers will probably have to awaii the establishment of t.lae long-promisee dairy experimental station. The fault] condition of milk drawn by the machim is, no doubt, in most cases caused by tin neglect of thorough cleanliness, this intuir often being a consequence of want of know ledge of^ what constitutes cleanness as re quired in everything with which mill comes in contact ; but there is no doub that in many cases the milk is denied bj disease, the presence of which is not sus pectsd by the owner of the cow — and r must be borne in mind that the smallesi quantity of such diseased milk is eufficien to contaminate the whole of the milk witl which it is mixed, and destroy the quality of the cheece or butter made therefrom In the absence of definite information oi the various points mentioned, all that cai be done to assist farmers in the difficultiei which are puzzling many of them is t< suggest that before undertaking the charge of a milking-machine they should obtaii some experience in its use by putting h a sufficient time at one of the Governmen farms where machines are installed, or a some private farm where they would bi oivon the necessary facilities for observa Lion and practice, or under an expert a their own farms. Smooth working an< propel cleanliness will thus be assured. Ai i eyelids contamination the owner must exa mine every cow daily before milking, an< ki'?p back the milk from any regardin< v inch he may be in doubt, at the earn time isolating' the animal until he is eithe ;issuied on the point or can obtain pro iessiona] advice. Here it may be re marked that although co-operative dair; comDanies at present look to the Govern ment fot oversight of the milk supply there can be no doubt that, sooner or later this duty will have to be undertaken b; the ro-operatois themseh es. as is uhe cas in other dairying countries. Then also no doubt, will systematic instruction b »-h<?n to suppliers in the working of th milkingmachine and in the detection am tientment of disease in the cows.