DIVISION OF ANIMAL EU SB AN DRY 

 SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



649 



MILKING MACHINE. 



In July, 1912, a Sharpies Mechanical Milker was installed in the main barn with 

 the idea of testing thoroughly this method of milking, and the machine in particular, 

 as to commercial adaptation, economy of production, effect on cows, and on the 

 quality of the milk produced. 



The complete outfit consists of compressor, compression and vacuum tanks, 

 piping and six milking units. A unit is made up of container, cover, four teat cups, 

 pulsator and all rubber connections. The complete unit, which milks but one cow 

 at a time, costs $110; compressor, tanks, piping, etc., $110 extra. Cost of total installa- 

 tion, including electric motor, fittings, labour and all incidentals, $1,043. 



While this machine has been in continuous use, barring intervals approximating 

 a month's duration in all when, for purposes of comparison, the use of the milker 

 was discontinued — the data obtained are not as yet sufficiently complete to warrant a 

 final report at this time. Nevertheless, certain general facts have so established them- 

 selves that their mention may not be out of place. In this connection, reference 

 should be made to the following table which contains 'the results of hand versus 

 machine milking in successive two-week periods, from January 26, 1913, to April 5, 

 1913. 



TEN WEEKS' TEST, MACHINE vs. HAND MILKING ON A HERD OF 14 COWS. 



This test was initiated primarily to ascertain, if possible, the direct effect of the 

 two methods on the quality of the milk as shown by bacterial content. While it is, 

 then, chiefly of value from this standpoint, it also serves to show the comparative 

 decrease in flow for the successive periods. To obtain exact figures on this point is 

 difficult, as will be readily seen. Given two fairly balanced herds, the lactation 

 periods of the individuals of which began at approximately the same time, the weekly 

 decreases might be fairly compared. Such conditions, however, are difficult to obtain. 

 While comparative figures from more detailed sources would go to show that 

 mechanical milking exerts no marked influence on hastening the drying-off process, 

 the figures from the table herewith given, favour hand milking, the percentage 

 decrease being less during the weeks when the latter method was employed. Such 

 indications, however, must be thoroughly substantiated by later findings, before being 



