MILKING Cows. 177 



from the top downwards, so as to force out the milk. The finger 

 nails of milkers should be kept cut close. Every milker should wash 

 and dry the hands before he begins, and no one should ever dip his 

 fingers into the milk to moisten the teats. The milk stool should be 

 about nine inches high and should have three legs. The best position 

 for the milker is to place his head firmly against the side of the cow, 

 between her thigh and flank, throwing one leg slightly behind and 

 the other in front of her hind legs, so as to hold the pail firmly 

 between the knees. In case the milker should happen to get hold of 

 a kicking cow, this position will enable him to brace himself so as to 

 prevent her from kicking the pail. Sometimes, however, we find 

 vicious kickers, where it is necessary to use artificial means to break 

 them of the habit. In such cases a good remedy is to tie a strap 

 such as a surcingle of a horse tightly across ihe cow's back, and 

 under her belly. In moving her leg forward to kick, the cow raises 

 her back forward of the hip joint, and slightly expands the belly, and 

 her back being particularly tender, if the strap is drawn tight, it 

 hurts her to make this motion, and she soon desists. A very common 



MILKING TUBE. 



practice with kicking cows is to tie their hind legs together; but this 

 should never be done, because in struggling to get loose they are apt 

 to throw themselves. The strap applied in the manner described 

 will be found effective. 



I would say here that a great deal may be done to make cows quiet 

 milkers and prevent them from kicking, by careful and gentle man- 

 agement when a heifer first comes in. A young heifer, newly calved, 

 has generally a tender udder, and when it is full of milk, the act of 

 milking is painful and she will often attempt to kick. This is the 

 critical time ; if she is beaten she will kick back, and, perhaps, become 

 a confirmed kicker ; but if gently soothed and treated with patience 

 and kindness, as soon as the udder has lost its tenderness, she will 

 never think of kicking. 



I have known some of the most valuable animals to be ruined for 

 life in breaking them from kicking. It is then that the previous train- 

 ing, before mentioned, is found to be of the greatest advantage. 



Whipping or striking with the stools should never be allowed, as it 

 only makes them worse. When cows are annoyed at milking by flies, it 

 saves all trouble if a light sheet is thrown across the cow's back during 

 the operation. In the case of sore or obstructed teats there is nothing 

 I have found to give such quick relief as a silver tube made for that 



