210 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



the production from milking twice a day; and the increase 

 by milking four times, as 6 or 7 per cent over milking three 

 times a day. One can also estimate the increase from milk- 

 ing three times instead of twice, for long periods, at 18 per 

 cent. 



Milking By Hand 



Proper hand milking should have for its objects, aside 

 from sanitation, to draw the milk with the least discomfort 

 to the cow, to draw it as quickly as possible, and to get all 

 the milk. Some milkers, through unnecessary roughness, 

 an unusually strong grip, or long finger nails, keep the cow 

 uneasy during milking. This may lead to kicking. There is 

 no advantage in slow milking, and experiments at the Wis- 

 consin station showed that the percentage of fat may be 

 lowered by prolonging the milking operation. 



Unless all the milk is removed from the udder, it is 

 thought that the milk remaining will interfere with the 

 functioning of the gland and result in a diminished produc- 

 tion. When the calf runs with the cow, probably this is the 

 way in which nature adjusts the supply 'to meet the de- 

 mand. In order to get all the milk certain manipulations 

 of the udder have been practiced. These manipulations ap- 

 parently increase the production slightly, but they have 

 never come into general use, although an abbreviated mod- 

 ification of the method is practical. An upward pressure 

 on each quarter of the udder for a few times when milking 

 is nearly completed will help to bring the milk into the teats 

 where it can be drawn. 



The Mechanical Milker 



The mechanical milker is a success on many dairy 

 farms. It saves labor, is easier, and to many persons its 

 proper sanitary condition make them impractical if the 

 operation is more agreeable than hand milji:ing. The cost 

 of installation and the labor of keeping the machines in 

 herds are very small. 



It is possible to have milk with a low bacteria count 

 when machine drawn by giving proper attention to cleans- 



