MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE 221 



same purpose as wetting the teats, and is beneficial rather than 

 harmful, both in a sanitary way and as it affects the cow's 

 teats. 



Effect of Period between Milkings. If a cow is milked 

 twice a day at twelve-hour intervals, there is as a rule little 

 difference between night's and morning's yield or richness. 

 If the period is unequal, the larger amount of milk and the 

 lowest quality usually follows the longer period. 



Milking three times per day is practiced with heavy-pro- 

 ducing cows, and with all cows that are being crowded for the 

 largest records, especially if it be for short periods. Few 

 cows can produce over 60 pounds of milk per day with two 

 milkings, and when 75 to 80 pounds are reached, the production 

 will seldom go higher unless the cow is milked four times each 

 24 hours. When the udder becomes congested to a certain 

 point, no further secretion takes place until this congestion is 

 removed by milking. With heavy-producing cows it will pay 

 in a practical way to milk three times daily. With cows of 

 anything like ordinary productive capacity, the increase is not 

 sufficient to pay for the extra labor involved. The richness 

 of the milk is also somewhat increased with heavy milkers 

 by milking more than twice per day. 



Stoppage of the Teats. It occasionally happens that the 

 opening in the teats is apparently closed up when the cow be- 

 gins to produce milk. Something must be done to open it, or 

 that portion of the udder will be spoiled. This may often be 

 done with a common silver milk tube or with a teat expander. 

 Small, hard lumps form occasionally at the base of the teat, and 

 should be treated with the bistoury. 



The Milking Machine. A satisfactory milking machine 

 has long been the greatest need of the dairy farmer. While 



