DAIRY AND SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETINGS, 22/ 



Generally speaking, it may be said that the cows of the dairy 

 breeds which yield a fairly large flow of milk readily give down 

 their milk from the beginning. 



Some experience is necessary before the operator can properly 

 attach the teat cups. In the first place the operator should use 

 care to allow as little barn air as possible to enter the cups 

 while there is a vacuum in the pail, thus allowing dust and or- 

 ganisms to enter. During the attachment of the teat cups the 

 barn air is prevented from entering the pail by bending the 

 rubber tube between the teat cup and the connector. By using 

 care and with a little experience practically no barn air need 

 be drawn into the paii. If the teat cups are not properly at- 

 tached they are more likely to fall off during the last part of the 

 milking period when the udder is limp. 



Before the cups are attached to the teats the operator should 

 see that the teats are in proper condition and that they enter 

 the teat cups straight without being turned and twisted. 



The teats of the cows are not always in equally good condi- 

 tion to be milked by the machine. If the cows have been ex- 

 posed to damp and cold surroundings the teats are short, and 

 the covering of the teats is curled and contracted. When the 

 teats are in such condition it is important that the operator 

 bring them into normal condition before the teat cups are at- 

 tached. This can be done by gently rubbing and slightly pull- 

 ing the teats with the warm hand of the operator. The teats 

 should be clean before the teat cups are attached. Unclean 

 teats are usually contracted as previously mentioned, and con- 

 taminate the milk. 



Such contracted teats milk with difficulty. The teat cups do 

 not get a firm grip nor a good symmetrical hold and they are 

 likely to give trouble by falHng off. As a result, one side of 

 the teat may be pulled into normal length before the other, and 

 thus cause the end of the teat to turn and partially prevent the 

 proper discharge of the milk. 



When the operator learns the action of the milking machine 

 on the different cows and the appearance of each cow's udder 

 when full and empty, he can tell without much watching when 

 the milking is completed. An experienced operator should 

 watch the inspection glasses. When the milk stops flowing past 

 the inspection glass probably the cow is dry. The fact that the 



