MILKING COWS.

Shannon News, 22 June 1928, Page 2

MILKING COWS.

FAST AND SLOW METHODS,

RAPID MILKING ADVISED,

Have any comparisons been made of the production of cows milked rapidly with' that of the same cows milked slowly? In other words, does the rate at which cows are milked have any influence on their production? This query is answered in an American journal by Professors Fitch, of Kansas, Reed, of Michigan, Fraser, of Illinois, Eavis, of Nebraska, Eckles, of Minnesota,'and Wing, of New York. Their replies, in substance, are as follows: —

Professor Fitch says: "I can find no reference to experimental work that would indicate the best rate of milking cows. I do know, however, that it has generally been believed that a cow should be mjlked rather rapidly. I believe, too, that when a cow becomes accustomed to a milker that the speed of milking, within reasonable limits, has but little effect on her production." Professor Reed says: "To distinguish between rapid aiid slow milking one who milks from 8 to 10 cows an hour is a rapid milker, while one who milks from 6 to 8 cows is a slower milker. I do not know of any experimental work done that would answer the question as to why it is good practice to milk a cow rapidly, but it has been our experience that a rapid milker gets better results than a slow milker." Professor Fraser says: "A number of years ago I had a student do some work/ on this subject. He milked some cows for a time at a certain rate; he then took twice the time to milk eaeh cow. The cows decreased in production quite perceptibly, but after the fourth milking they gave just as much milk as when milked at the more rapid rate. , This seems to indicate that cows tend to adjust themselves." Professor Davis says: "We have carried on no definite experiments with reference to this. For a eow giving two to three gallons of milk I consider six minutes as rapid milking, eight minutes as slow/milking. Based on some milking machine experiments carried on a number of years ago at the Pennsylvania State College, it is my opinion that reasonably rapid milking should be encouraged. The element of time (labour) is a factor that must be considered."

Professor Eckles says: "Rapid milking is always advised, and I believe is based on sound experience. However, so far as I know, no definite scientific experiments have been made to determine the actual facts. I cannot even give a theory as to the physiological reason for, the better results which apparently follow rapid milking.