LABOR EEQUIEEMENTS AI^D MILKING MACHINES. 15 



depreciation. The actual cost of milking a cow by the two methods 

 is shown by Table VL The tables indicate that a cow in a herd of 30 

 cows or more can be milked more profitably by the mechanical milker 

 than by hand. In the dairies of 15 cows or less the actual cost of 

 hand milking is less than b}^ machine milking. Table V, however, 

 shows that the use of the machine eliminates the hiring of some help 

 on these farms, as it permits the operator to milk alone a number 

 of cows which he would require additional labor to milk by hand. 

 Such a condition is found on farms where the operator has become 

 physically unfit to milk, because of the weakening of muscles in his 

 hands and wrists. Some farmers do not like to milk and prefer either 

 to hire labor for this purpose or keep small dairies. The milking 

 machine also assures the farmer of being able to do the milking in 

 case of sickness among his working hands or if any of them should 

 leave. In this way it makes the dairyman less dependent upon hired 

 help. 



EFFECT ON COWS. 



Tests conducted by various State experimental stations show that 

 practically the same milk yields were secured from cows whether 

 they were machine milked or hand milked.^ The bulletins reporting 

 these experiments, however, emphasize the fact that when the me- 

 chanical milker is successfully operated it must be in the hands of 

 a competent man, and that stripping after the machine is absolutely 

 essential if satisfactory results are to be obtained. Information ob- 

 tained in this study substantiates these statements. 



A reasonable amount of care and intelligence must oe exercised 

 by the operator if good results are to be expected. It is not a good 

 plan for the operator to attach a milking unit to a cow and go away 

 while it is in operation. When the milker has drawn all the milk 

 that will be given freely by the cow it is a saving of time to remove 

 it and place it on the next cow to be milked. Strippings can be 

 drawn much more quickly by hand and with less chance of injury 

 to the cow. Many users of milking machines are of the opinion that 

 best results are obtained from them if certain of the milking force 

 are assigned to operate and others strip after the machine. Strip- 

 ping the cows after the machine is removed not only saves time 

 but also affords opportunity^ for examining the udder. 



In order to ascertain the effect, if any, of the mechanical milkers 

 on the milking qualities of cows in the dairies where they Avere used, 

 two questions were asked the dairyman operating them. Following 

 are these questions, with summaries of the answers received. 



» Kentucky Kxp. Sta. Bui. No. 186; Now York Exp. Sta. Bui. No. 317 (Geneva) ; Wiscon- 

 Bln Kx[>. Sta. Bui. No. 173. 



