LABOR REQUIREMENTS AND MILKING MACHINES. 
17 
STAGE OF LACTATION PERIOD. 
When a cow's lactation period has so far advanced that she be- 
comes a " stripper " many farmers think that it is a waste of time to 
put the milker on her. Hence it is a common practice to discontinue 
using the milking machine on cows that are nearly dry and strip by 
hand. In herds where most of the cows become nearly dry at one time 
the use of the mechanical milker is often discontinued altogether for 
a time until cows enough come in to enable the machine to be oper- 
ated economically. 
Table VII. — Comparative efficiency of various combinations of milking units 
and operators in the operations of mechanical milkers. 
Number of operators i and millking units. 
1 operator, 1 milker . . 
1 operator, 2 milkers.. 
1 operator, 3 milkers.. 
2 operators, 2 milkers. 
2 operators, 3 milkers. 
2 operators, 4 milkers. 
3 operators, 3 milkers. 
One-cow milker. 
Number 
of farms. 
Minutes 
per cow 
per 
milking. 
4 
3.65 
5.25 
5.2 
4.85 
5.3 
Two-cow milker. 
Number 
of farms. 
Minutes 
per cow 
per 
milking. 
4.75 
3.35 
i The term " Number of operators" as used in the above table means the number of men who either oper- 
ate the machine or strip. 
EFFICIENCY OF MILKING COMBINATIONS. 
Of the different kinds of milking machines in common use about 
half milk one cow at a time and the other half two cows, at a time. 
They are called, respectively, one and two unit outfits. Each has 
certain advantages. 
Table VII was made by averaging the time taken to milk a cow by 
the several combinations of milking units and operators most com- 
monly used. This table indicates that the greatest speed in milking 
is made when one man operates and strips after two double milking 
units. On farms where one man operates and strips after three units 
the cows must be stripped hurriedly. Too rapid stripping is not de- 
sirable when it is done at the expense of the thoroughness of the 
work. 
There are various conditions, however, which will determine what 
is the best combination to use in milking. The ability of the opera- 
tors to change the machines and attend to the cows, the readiness 
with which the cows let down their milk, and the time required to 
strip, all enter into the determination of the best milking combina- 
tion. 
WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1916 
