326 Journal of Agriculture. [8 June, 1908. 



find their way into the milk pail. These fall from the hairs of the udder 

 and adjacent parts of the cow, are introduced by dust and flies, and are 

 transferred from various parts of the animal by the hands of the milker. 

 By focussing attention on these points, we have endeavoured to materially 

 reduce the initial dirt contents of the milk. Each supervisor sees the 

 milking carried out at one farm at least, every morning and evening. The 

 cooling of the milk is carried out by passing it o\er a gridiron or cone 

 cooler, the vv^ater for this process being, as far as practicable, obtained 

 from underground tanks or wells. This supply is much colder during the 

 summer months than that obtained from the Yan Yean or other city water 

 supply. The milk room, where the c(x>ling is carried out, is usually built 

 at a distance from the cow-shed, and air disconnection is always insisted on. 

 No regulations ha\-e been drawn up to control the conditions under which 

 these and similar points are carried out, but each case is decided on its 

 merits. With regard to dairies, very satisfactorv progress has been made 

 in bringing them up to a good standard of efficiency, and special efforts have 

 been made to have the milk kept in well-ventilated rooms or cupboards, 

 where it is safe from the flies. I am informed that, in spite of the abnor- 

 mally hot summer that we have just passed through, the incidence of infantile 

 diarrhoea and other milk diseases has been unusually light this season. It 

 may be premature to claim that this result is due in some measure to the 

 efforts of the Department of Agriculture, but it is certain that the work of 

 the supervisors has been directed with the specific object or accomplishing 

 this end. 



(2) Witli regard to the steps that have been taken to imijrove the general 

 system of farm management, particularly in regard to the feeding of the 

 cows, the details are perhaps not of suflficient interest to medical men tO' war- 

 rant more than a passing remark. The teaching of the Department is to the 

 effect that little progress can be made in general agriculture while farmers 

 depend exclusively upon grazing. Pa.stures mav be important, but pastures 

 must be supplemented bv provision made b\- the use of the plough. The 

 cultivation and the conservation of fodder crops either dried or in the form 

 of silage are steadily inculcated, and the production on the farm of food 

 materials rich in protein is looked upon as one of the all-important condi- 

 tions to the economical production of milk. The teachings of physiology 

 are translated into practical axioms for the farmer. The increase during 

 the past twelve months of the area under fodder crops from 35,000 acres 

 to 64,000 acres is perhaps an indication that Victorian farmers are taking 

 this lesson to heart. 



(3) In order to dete;-t disea.se in the udder, each quarter of the organ is 

 very carefully examined at least twice a year. Any suspicious cases are 

 prohibited for the period of fourteen days, during which time, or as soon 

 after as possible, an inspection is made by one of the veterinary officers, 

 and the prohibition either made permanent, removed, or extended. In 

 doubtful cases the tuberculine test is used. If a cow is permanently pro- 

 hibited, she is branded accordingly. 



The Act does not confer any power to kill diseased animals, but on the 

 other hand, the value of dairy cattle in Victoria is seldom so great as to 

 warrant a farmer keeping them when once they have been permanently pro- 

 hibited. Thev are, therefore, almost invariably slaughtered under super- 

 vision, and in nearlv every case, a post-mortem examination is made in 

 order to verify the diagnosis by a member of the Veterinary Staff. 



