414 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Machine milking 40 and hand only 15 to 20 — any change be 

 detrimental. Will say right here that our Walker-Gordon Dept. 

 of St. Louis, in its daily examinations of the milk made by ma- 

 chines, found it very satisfactory, there being small count of bac- 

 teria, per cent, often as low as 2,500 and never exceeding 10,000, 

 which, as every one familiar with the making of certified milk 

 knows to be of great importance, so had little trouble, if any, from 

 the product from that source. 



The machine is very simple and easy to clean. First drawing 

 cold water through them as in milking, after which wash in hot 

 water, with handful of wash soda then thoroughly steaming or 

 sterilizing every part of them. It requires little more time, and 

 patience than the ordinary milking vessel. 



Noticing a decrease in amount of product, as compared with 

 former years, about June 1, decided to milk by hand for 10 days, 

 carefully weighing and testing milk, to find, if possible, the reason 

 for the shrinkage, and to test the different methods. This test 

 seemed to bear out the fact that the machines were doing good 

 work, and I again began their use, and continued during the sum- 

 mer months. Have found the expense of operation, consisting of 

 repairs, fuel, oil, etc., to be approximately $25.00 per month. Re- 

 pairs, such as worn out rubber mouth pieces, broken teat cups, 

 etc., amounting to about $10.00, balance in fuel to operate the steam 

 ejector, or power. 



On my return from the Sedalia Fair, early part of October, 

 I found the cows to be doing exceedingly poor, a marked decrease 

 in milk and a perceptible decrease in butter fat, which the records 

 of the St. Louis Dairy Co. will show. 



I determined to again test the herd by hand, and commenced 

 about October 10, at which time we were making ah average of 112 

 gallons per day from 68 cows. A few days later I found 16 of the 

 68 cows giving an average of only 6 pounds a day; those I cut and 

 turned over to pasture. At the end of two weeks, after this re- 

 duction of herd was producing 120 gallons of milk per day with 

 52 head of cows; showing that there was a gradual decrease of 

 product during the summer, and, I believe, without doubt, this loss 

 was due to the operating of the machines. While the cows stood 

 perfectly quiet and docile, and were apparently comfortable, no pain 

 or hurt being caused by their operation, but the decrease showing 

 that the machines did not produce the best results. Therefore, in 

 conclusion will say, have put aside the machines, and am milking 

 by hand, gradually increasing our output, as records will show. 



