HOW TO MILK A COW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 79, 30 March 1912, Page 8

HOW TO MILK A COW.

Inquiries as to the proper method, of milking a fresh cow have led E. R. Stockwell, of the Dairy Department of Oregon Agricultural College to make the following statement regarding the care of the cow after calving. Milking is generally considered such a simple operation that any common labourer is supposed to be able to milk. There is, however, an immense difference in milkers. One milker may be able to get 20 per cent more milk than another. The milker should not he allowed to excite or worry the cow by Loud talking or abuse of any kind. A .cow should be milked quietly and quickly. As she is largely a creature of habit, special care should be taken to get all the strippings. The first milk drawn may contain as little as 1 per cent of fat, while the last from G to 10 per cent. In milking, the whole hand should bo used, closing first next to the udder. Then the milk is forced past the sphincter muscle by closing the remainder of the hand. The cow’s teats should always be dry when milked. Wetting the teats is not only a dirty, filthy habit, but it also allows the teats to chap and become sore in bad weather. If there is any difficulty in milking a cow dry, a small amount of vaseline may he nibbed on the hands; it is beneficial rather than harmful, both in a sanitary way and in its effects on the teats. The future of many a promising dairy cow has been mined by improper milking soon after calving. The dairy cow has. been abnormally developed to produce large quantities of milk; consequently certain of her organs, such as the mammary glands, have become greatly enlarged and weakened just before and after parturition, duo probably to the secreting of large quantities. The art, or science, whichever wo may call it, of milking can only 1)3 attained by those who are willing tn make a study of each individual cow, of her disposition, dairy temperament, and physical condition. First; as to the care of the cow previous to parturition. She should not receive much grain, but enough bran mash to keep her laxative. No succulent feed should bo fed, as it stimulates milk secretion.

After calving the calf should b.allowed to take the first milk, and when it bits all it can take, finish the milking with the calf still near. It the udder is hard and caked, a good massaging with the palm of the hand, with lard, or, better, with camphorated ointment, will be greatly hastened by the sucking of a hungry calf, because of the kneading it gives the udder with its nose. The most important things to keep in mind arc: first, do not feed succulent feeds previous to parturition or for a few days afterwards; second, milk the cow three times daily after the calf has taken the first milk; third, if the udder is in a congested condition, massage it and allow the calf to suck frequently the first day.