226 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



sity of Wisconsin has determined the value of machine milking 

 by comparing data that show the decrease in the production of 

 the cows during the periods of machine-milking and their total 

 (production during that time. The weekly production of the 

 cows in their herd when they were machine milked decreased 

 on the average 2.9 pounds of milk and 0.12 pounds of fat. The 

 figures for the average weekly decrease in production for cows 

 kept under similar conditions as these, except that they were 

 milked by hand, were the same as these, that is on the average 

 2.9 pounds of milk and 0.12 pounds of fat. There is therefore 

 no difference between the results obtained by hand milking and 

 the average data given for machine-milked cows. 



The weekly production of the cows during the period when 

 they were milked by machine was, on the average, 145.8 pounds 

 of milk and 6.19 pounds of fat. The data obtained on hand 

 milking were slightly aibove these figures ; the difference, how- 

 ever, is too small to be considered. 



Cows are easily broken to the use of the milking machine. 

 Some of them, however, become accustomed to it more readily 

 than others. Briefly, it may be stated that the more milk the 

 cows give the easier it is to get them used to the milking ma- 

 chine. Occasionally there is a cow which refuses to be milked 

 by machine. 



Whether or not a cow gives down her milk for the milking 

 machine during its first usage depends on the milker and on the 

 individuality of the cow. When the milking machine is first 

 used the operator should be the herdsman, or a man with whom 

 the cows are acquainted. If this strange machine, with a strange 

 operator, attempts to do the milking, the cows will be much 

 more suspicious and even afraid, than if the regular attendant 

 accompanies the milking machine. The regular herdsman 

 knows the temperament of the different cows and he can ap- 

 proach each cow sympathetically. By gently handling the cow's 

 teats and udder she gives down milk before the milking machine 

 is attached. The teat cups are then put on and the milk is 

 extracted before the cow realizes what did it. As soon as the 

 cows have been milked a few times with the machine no diffi- 

 culties are encountered by reason of any of them refusing to 

 give down their milk. 



