State Dairy Association. 413 



MILKING MACHINES. 



Perhaps the most interesting subject with which I have to 

 deal at this time, is my experience with the milking machine. 



This subject appeals to everyone in the production of milk 

 in merchantable quantities as it has been almost impossible to 

 secure good milk men during the prosperous times of last several 

 years, because of high-priced, as well as scarcity of first-class 

 help on the farm. 



I have been interested in finding, if possible, a milk machine 

 to answer this important question. Finally, after careful investi- 

 gation, I contracted with Mr. A. O. Harwood, of the W. H. Barber 

 Creamery Package Co. of Chicago, for the installation of a com- 

 plete outfit of the B. L. K. M. M. Co., consisting of six milking ma- 

 chines, power to operate same, piping, etc. These were placed, 

 under their instructions, and operating began February 1, 1907. 



Was well pleased with initiatory performance; found cows 

 took to it kindly, very few making any trouble, and only for two 

 or three days, after which the whole herd stood perfectly quiet. 

 Some few of the older cows holding back their milk; young cows 

 and heifers milking much quicker and easier, giving better results 

 than older cows, and found only slight decrease in quantity — no 

 more than could be expected with any change of milkers. Quality 

 was apparently unaffected. 



Until becoming familiar, one man was placed to a machine; 

 soon as man and cow became accustomed to same, then placed man 

 in charge of two machines. Everything went along satisfactorily, 

 using three men instead of four, as had been done previous to in- 

 stallation ; one of the men caring for the milk in the cooling room, 

 other two attending to milking with machine, thereby reducing the 

 cost of help one man, or 25 per cent. 



I have found that it was much harder to teach a man to oper- 

 ate machines successfully than to milk by hand. Have had quite 

 a little trouble teaching operators the importance of getting the 

 right-sized teat cups and mouth pieces to fit each cow, as this point 

 is essential in the successful use of milk machines, and cannot stress 

 this point too much. I believe much of the trouble with machines 

 to arise from this source; have found, therefore, the change of 

 operators to be much more costly than any change of hand — for the 

 reason having once learned the machine and cows, if for any rea- 

 son he was out, many more cows were affected than by hand. 



