THE HEART OF THE HERD— THE DOES 171 



Although the process can be learned only from actual 

 practice, some suggestions may be helpful to such 

 a beginner. 



It would be best to learn on a doe going dry, rather 

 than on one just fresh. If the latter is the only animal 

 available, keep one of her kids, who will finish the job 

 completely if you fail to do so. Use a rather large, high 

 pail, one whose edge is not easily reached by the doe's 

 foot. Sit with the right side next to the right side of the 

 doe, the shoulder pressed, against the doe's shoulder. 

 Grasp the teats, thumbs outside the fingers, close the 

 grasp, beginning at the top (thumb and index finger), 

 and successively close the other fingers, thus forcing the 

 milk down the teat and out. Do not try to take too much 

 of the udder in the grasp if the teat is short. In that case, 

 use at first only the thumb and the first two fingers. As 

 the bag empties, it can be grasped with the whole hand. 

 Milk firmly but gently until the milk ceases to flow, then 

 strip the teat with the end of the thumb and first finger, 

 occasionally " nudging " the bag gently with the closed 

 fist until the last drop is extracted. Do not try to learn 

 with one hand alone, holding the pail in the other. Use 

 both hands from the beginning, keeping them firmly on 

 the teats, no matter how much the doe attempts to step 

 around or to lift her foot. She will use her right hind 

 foot. Defend the milk pail from this foot by throwing 



