38 MODERN DAIRY PRACTICE. 



lected in the belief that they keep themselves clean in the 

 pasture. It is, however, easy to satisfy one's self that it is 

 both useful and necessary even then to brush them occa- 

 sionally. The udders and bellies of the cows are easily 

 soiled by dust, dirt, and the like, which is fastened loosely 

 in the skin, and by the milking shaken down into the 

 milk. In this connection I want to tell our farmers 

 that they ought not to think too much of the trouble of 

 driving the cows from the pasture to some neighboring 

 lake or stream to bathe, where any such is at hand. The 

 cattle gain not a little in general health thereby, and their 

 bodfies, and above all the lower parts, in that way get a 

 thorough washing. In our land, rich in lakes, such summer 

 baths might be given the cattle much oftener than is now 

 usually the case. 



Even if all due care is taken in regard to the cleaning 

 of the cows it is always necessary just before the milking 

 to give the udder and its surroundings a further brushing, 

 to remove all dust and filth, which otherwise would fall 

 into the milk. It will not do to excuse the neglect of this 

 act of cleanliness by saying that the milk will be strained 

 and the dirt thus be removed from it anyway. First, a large 

 portion of the impurities is so finely divided that it is not 

 arrested by the strainer; and, secondly, the short time elaps- 

 ing between the milking and straining is often sufficiently 

 long to allow large numbers of bacteria to be washed from 

 the impurities and to begin multiplying in the milk. The 

 udders must not remain wet, as in such cases bacteria and 

 dirt would accompany drops of water which may fall down, 

 and would infect the milk. The parts mentioned ought, 

 on the other hand, to retain some moisture, as dust and 



