MACHINE MILKING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 June 1919, Page 6

MACHINE MILKING.

THE BEST RESULTS AND HOW TO OBTAIN THEM. i In connection with the lectures arranged by the Taranaki A. and P. 'Society as part of the bi'l of fare for farmer patrons of the Winter Show, Mr. .R. Dunn, of Aiiroa, gave an addreßS on "How to obtain the best results when using milkiog machines;" After referring to the extent to which the machines had eliminated much of. the drudgery connected with dairying, Mr. Dunn said a great deal depended upon following the directions given by the manufacturers of the particular machine used. While the makers supplied the metal and rubber parts, the 'users had to supply the brains. It was essential to see that the parts were always in thorough working order. If the ;pulsators were not thoroughly clean the Result was milking by suction only, and' '■was injurious to the cows. He advocated running the pulsatora a little faster as the season progressed. A common mistake was that of trying to milk too many cows without help. He advocated .daabte stripping, which he believed proiloßgad the milking period and produced .& better test. He thought it possible produce better and cleaner milk by HMMhine than by hand-miiking. Immediately each milking was, completed the itnbes and- teat-cup should be thoroughly jeleansed by a good flushing with fresh cold waiter. After the morning milking every part should be cleansed with two waters, the first hot with a little soda addfcd, and then afterwards with scalding water. Between the milkings he believed in keeping the tubes and teatcups well submerged in water, which would prevent the rubbers from deteriorating and ensure that they were also fresh and sweet at milking time. Some «!ows_ were not suitable for machine-' milking, and this should always be taken" into consideration; An animal with medium-sized teats and an udder that' felt soft and empty when milked was the most suitable for the machine. Bustle and noise should be avoided,, and everything don© as quietly and methodically as possible. Special care should he taken in breaking. in young animals to the machine, as a fright in an initial acquaintance with it might have serious cosequences.

It waa always advisable to winter cows well and provide them with plenty! of spring feed, so that they should not.j suffer a check and bo kept going at 1 top until the beginning of January, when the grass begins to lose its succulence. Going strong in the early part of the season usually meant success. The only drawback to the machines was that with the releaser plant it was impossible to see how much each cow was giving, and where cow-testing as carried on it was necessary to be able to use the bucket plant dnring four milkinga in a month. After ten years' experience with machines, Mr. Dunn was convinced that good results could be obtained from them without injury to the cows, and he would not go back to hand-milking.