No. 4.] MILK. 31 



o-reat diflerence in floAV of milk, but not in butter fat. In 



order to get that, you must breed for fat, — not feed. The 



percentage of butter fat is practically fixed in a cow at her 



birth. 



Water. 



Water of good quality and in plentiful supply is more 

 necessary to milking cows than to any other stock. Beyond 

 what is required for the use of the system, the cow must 

 have enough to maintain the natural proportions of her 

 milk. Under natural conditions she will not use more than 

 is good for her. 



The quality of the water is of the utmost importance. 

 Cows prefer soft to hard water, and that which has "the 

 chill off" to a colder supply. 



It is well to have water in cups in the manger, where the 

 cow can drink at her pleasure ; there is then no danger of 

 her drinking too much ; she will drink often, and will thrive 

 much better. It has been found that the average milch cow 

 requires about 81 pounds (nearly 10 gallons) of water a 

 day ; while in milk cows need much water. 



Milking. 



We come now to a very important part of the business of 

 producing milk. No matter how fine the herd is, or how 

 well arranged the buildings are, or how well we have cared 

 for the dairy herd ; unless there is cleanliness in milking, 

 the product is inferior. In the production of milk for direct 

 consumption it is imperative that the udders be cleaned 

 before milking, as it is from soiled udders that milk as ordi- 

 narily produced gets the greatest amount of contamination. 

 It has been found by experimentation that most of the filth 

 and l)acteria that find their Avay into milk come from the 

 surface of the udder during the milking process. To pre- 

 vent this contamination the loose dirt should be brushed 

 from the sides and bellies of the cows, the udders should be 

 wiped off with a damp cloth, and the milkers should be 

 required to have their hands clean and have on a clean 

 suit, — not necessarily white suits, but clean ; cleanliness is 

 conducive to health. The cow should be brought in and 



