38 Dairy Bacteriology. 



While the stable air cannot be freed entirely from dust, 

 much can be done with a little forethought. Feeding 

 before milking adds materially to the germ content, espe- 

 cially if feed is of dry character. If moistened feed is 

 given just before or during milking, the same objection 

 does not inure. Harrison 1 gives some striking results 

 on this point. The numbers cited indicate the num- 

 ber of bacteria that were deposited per minute on a 

 surface equal to that of a twelve- inch milk pail. In 

 Series A, the exposure was made during bedding; in B, 

 this operation was performed an hour before. 



Influence of dusty air on germ life. 



Series A 16,000, 13,536, 12,216, 12,890, 15,340, 



19,200, 23,400, 27,342, 42,750, 18,730. 

 Series B 483, 610, 820, 715, 1,880, 



. 2,112, 1,650, 990, 1,342, 2,370. 



These results indicate that the bacteria are for the 

 most part attached to particles of considerable weight as 

 they settle readily to the floor. 



42. The relative importance of foregoing factors. 

 The relative importance of these various factors differs 

 so much in different cases that 110 uniform rule can be 

 given as to the effect of their presence in different cases. 

 In those dairies where no especial care is exercised over the 

 methods of handling the milk, the factor of unclean 

 utensils and filth from the animal are usually the great- 

 est. Where a careful supervision is given to these details, 

 the influence of the fore milk is of first importance. The 

 effect of these various contaminating factors can be 

 largely minimized, and in some instances eliminated with- 

 out great difficulty. 



A goodly number of the bacteria present in the fore 

 milk can be prevented from gaining access to the milk by 

 rejecting the first few streams that are milked from each 



1 Harrison, 22d Kept. Ont. Ag. Coll., 1896, p. 111. 



