Efficiency of Milking Machine

Efficiency of Milking Machine

Tests of the efficiency of machines of different types, the relation to the milk yield and to the sanitary condition of the milk have been made by several experiment stations and the United States Department of Agriculture. From these reports it is possible to arrive at a reasonably, safe conclusion regarding the general working of these machines in practice.

It has been thoroughly demonstrated that milking machines will milk cows and that a skilled operator will do as efficient work ‘as-the average hand milker It is questionable, however, if the milking machine is equal to a skillful experienced hand milker in the amount of milk secured. During the early part of the lactation period the cow apparently milks better by machine as compared with hand milking than is the case later in the milking period. Most users have found it more difficult to hold up the yield of milk during the last part of the milking period when the machine is used. After a cow has been in milk for some months the stimulation to produce milk is due partly to the act of milking itself. Hand milking undoubtedly results in more stimulation of this kind than does machine milking unless machine milking is followed by careful stripping.

The cow is not injured in the least and usually very quickly becomes accustomed to machine milking.