ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 61 



menced milking. The cows had been tested with tubercuHn pre- 

 vious to this. 



When we commenced the certified milk work we noticed that 

 there followed a shrinkage in the flow of milk that was a surprise 

 to me, and I could not account for it. My first thought was that 

 it might be a result of the tuberculin test and I was worried about 

 it, but after giving the matter thought and getting information 

 from several sources I reached the conclusion that I must look 

 elsewhere for the cause. 



We noticed after a time that this shrinkage commenced 

 immediately after the cows were put in the stable in which the 

 cows were kept from which the certified milk was produced. 

 The business commenced small and the cows were not at first 

 all put into this stable, but were transferred from another stable 

 at times when needed. 



This set me on another line of thought and convinced me the 

 cause was in the treatment of the cows in some way, and the 

 only difference in the work between the two stables was in the 

 milking, and I soon had the trouble corralled. About this time 

 there was a discussion in Hoard's Dairyman about the bad effect 

 of manipulating the cows udder except immediately in advance 

 of milking, for the reason that it stimulated the secretion of milk 

 by the cow, and nature's effort was not assisted by relieving the 

 cow of the milk as secreted, and the effect was a damper on 

 nature's effort and resulted in a decrease of the flow of milk. 



After due deliberation I changed my plan of work in cleans- 

 ing the udders, so that now I have a man who does nothing but 

 cleanse the udders and does it just in advance of the milkers. 

 The results are now satisfactory. 



Mr. Newman: I want to say to the farmers here that I am 

 very sorry that Mr. Gurler is not here, as we could receive a 

 great deal that is valuable from him, but I do hope that you will 

 get his book on dairying. You can get it from your newspaper 

 man and it will be of great value to you. 



Convention adjourned to 7:30 p. m. 



