344 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



I 5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Lawrence-Kennedy, the Sharpies, and eventually other makes of meelianical milkers, 

 in contrast to good hand milking. This installation did not in any way mean the dis- 

 carding of the first installed machine. A complete outfit of the Burrell-Lawrence- 

 Kennedy milker, consisting of three double milking units, together with -all necessaiy 

 appliances and incidentals, was installed, the one motor, however, being capable of 

 handling the two makes of mechanical milkers. The cost of the Burrel-Lawrence- 

 Kennedy milker amounted to $102 per milking unit, with extra for the pump, tank, 

 and valves. A unit of this machine consists of a milk pail, cover with pulsator 

 attached, eight teat cups and all rubber tubing. One xmit of the Burrell-Lawrence- 

 Kennedy machine milks two cows at a time, in contrast to one cow at a time in the 

 Sharpies machine. 



The fire which destroyed the main bam in October, 1913, also destroyed all pip- 

 ing, motors, pumps, vacuum tanks, etc., of both of these makes of meehanioal milkers 

 and, in consequence of the loss of building;s and this part of the equipment, it was 

 deemed advisable to discontinue experimental work with milking machines until the 

 completion of the new structure, when all such work will be much enlarged and con- 

 tinued. 



The Sharpies mechanical milker had been in use for fifteen months, excepting 

 check periods of hand millcing, amounting to approximately three months. The Bur- 

 rell-Lawrence-Kennedy m.achine was in use just one month previous to the fire. Com- 

 parisons between these two machines in any Avay would be utterly impossible owing to 

 the fact that the latter installed machine was used for such a short time and also that 

 the former machine had in a way prepared the cows for mechanical milking. How- 

 ever, with the ten months of hand milking subsequent to the loss of buildings, all 

 herds will be in a position on a uniform basis to take up the experimental work comv 

 paring these two nxachines with hand milking. 



The bacteriological study for purity of milk in this work has, in the past, been 

 conducted by Miss L. Dean, and with the assistance and under the supervision of the 

 Dominion Botanist, Mr. H. T. Giissow. Many new bacterial phases of this work will 

 be taken up as soon as this experimiental work with mechanical mill?:ers is re-estab- 

 lished. 



A brief summary of results with the Sharpies mechanical milker to date is as fol- 

 lows : — 



Although uniform conditions as to cleanliness of barn, cattle, etc., were main- 

 tained, yet with the best methods possible adopted, certified milk was an impossibility 

 with the Sharpies machine, while, with difficulty, it was possible by the best of hand 

 milking. For good pure milk the Sharpies mechanical millver gave good results if 

 special precautions Avere taken in the washing and sterilizing of the milker after each 

 minting period. The utility of this mechanical milker in the production of pure milli 

 depends absolutely on the man who is operating the same, both as to cleanliness of the 

 cows, care in handling the machine during operation, and thorough sterilization of the 

 machine before using. 



This machine appai-ently had no ill effect upon the cattle, only a few objecting to 

 its use at the commencement of the experiment, and all taking kindly to it in a short 

 time. 



As to economy of labour, it undoubtedly has decreased the labour of milking fully 

 60 per cent but, on the other hand, has largely increased the labour in washing and 

 sterilizing of all utensils. Generally speaking, it has decreased the roost important 

 labour of milking to an extent which would warrant the installation of the machine 

 in a herd of some dimensions — fifteen cows or more. 



Apparently the machine has exei-ted some influence in hastening the end of the 

 lactation period; however, as it was the first year of installation, no definite figures or 

 no definite conclusions could be drawn. 



Ottawa. 



