Disadvantages of Milking Machines.
Probably the greatest real criticism of the milking machine is the ease with which it spreads infectious udder troubles .
This has become so great in some herds that machine milking has been discontinued. Care must be taken to milk any cow last which shows any suspicion of inflammation of the udder, or better still, not to use the machine at all in such cases. A careful sterilization of the teat cups is always advisable, but especially so when there is any evidence of udder trouble.
Since the chief source of dirt in milk is the body of the cow from which dirt drops during milking, it would appear that the use of the milking machine by excluding this dirt would be an important factor in improving the sanitary condition of milk. However, surveys show that machine-drawn milk usually is inferior rather than superior to hand-drawn in bacterial content. This is the result of careless cleaning of the outfit. If the machine is properly cleaned and used, the sanitary condition of the milk is improved over hand milking; on the other hand, if not well cleaned, the milk is in decidedly worse condition.
A farmer considering the purchase of a milking machine will do well to visit farms where different makes are in use and observe their operation. It is also well to select a machine that has been on the market long enough to make certain that the defects have been discovered and corrected. The chances are also better that a company which has been manufacturing a machine for several years will remain in business, making it possible for the user to secure parts when needed. The portable unit is a recent development with many advantages.
