HARD MILKING COWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 715, 24 October 1914, Page 2

HARD MILKING COWS.

There are two methods o£ treating the hard-milk-ing cow. One is to use teat p.lugp. These can bs purchased from veterinary surgeons. They are merely plugs mads so that they may be in the end of the teat, where they remain between fjjmilking periods. The reason a cow milks hard is because the sphincter muscle which contracts the end of the teat j"3 rigid. The teat plugs remaining in the teat between the milking hourß have a tendency gradually to dißtend and dilate this muscle in such a way that the cow eventually becomes easy to milk. The Becond method is to cui the teats thus weakening the sphincter muscle. This is accomplished with a teat-slitter an instrument that is inserted into the teat. By pressing the end small knive are pressed out in Buch a way that when the teatslitter is withdrawn the muscle is severed. It is necessary after this operation to milk the cow several times a day whi'ls the muscle ishealing in order th»t it does not grow back together as tightly as before the operation Often it is well to cut the muscle in this manner and follow the operation by the use of the teat plug There is really no reason why one should utilise his time with hard milkers when by the use of these inexpensive iinstrumehts they may be rendered easy milkers. One precaution that is necessary to take is that all instruments inserted in the cow's teat should be carefully sterilised before each insertion. This guards against infection of the udder. It is also as not to attempt the operation yourself, unless you have some experience.