NO UDDER TROUBLES

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 13

NO UDDER TROUBLES

BREEDER’S VIEWS. (Times Representative.) TE AWAMUTU, Saturday. Twelve years’ milking operations without his cows showing any sign of hard quarters is the record of Mr J. G. Holmes, pedigree breeder of Te Awamutu. Proper care of the cows, correct disinfection of the hands and the cleanliness of teats are the main essentials advocated by Mr Holmes to keep the animals free of mammitis and other udder troubles. “ During the time I have been milking I have never had oooasion to use liniments for bad quarters,” said Mr Holmes. “ For the last four years I have milked between 40 and 55 cows, and have hand-milked all of them. In my opinion udder trouble is caused In no small degree by milking machines. It Is Impossible to dlslnfeot the machines thoroughly after each cow Is milked, but if the hands are properly treated with a solution of Condy's crystals and water when each cow is finished, the spreading of disease germs may be practically eliminated.” On Mr Holmes’ farm the hands of the milkers are disinfected after each animal Is milked, this operation taking place even before the leg ropes are touched to release the cow. Milking by hand might be impossible in some of the larger herds on account of the labour situation, commented Mr Holmes, but he would advise pedigree breeders to keep less stock, maintaining herds of improved cAiality and giving the animals more attention. This would certainly minimise the breeders’ maintenance costs.