The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-08-28
The Philosophy of Milking.

The uddCr is divided into four parts entirely
distinct from each other, except rs they are
held together by membraneOus ligalnents. Tho
milk in each is held in continent tubes, which
like the roots of a tree, are all contracted into
one just above the teat, the milk entering the
TunnelShaped organ by single channel. Just
at the upper end of the teat tho walls of this
channel are contracted, and the contraction is
surrounded by band of muscular fibres. The
VIII OF the COW can operate on this band, con-
tracing or expanding it at pleasure, making it
operate like valve. At the junction of each
smaller tube with large one Is similar con
traction and band, also under the control of tho
Will. Ordinarily these bands are contracted las
in the neck of the bladder, SO that the milk
has to crowd its way through them to get from
the smaller into the larger tnhps
This is an admirable arrangement fora a,,staip
ing the weight of the milk equally in all parls
of the udder, and preventing it from pressing
heavily upon the teatS.
When the udder is full, If the milk is drawn
out of the teats relieving the pressure in them,
it requires vigorous effort of the will of the
cow to prevent the pressure above from crowd
ing the milk down to fill the vacancy. If the I'D
der is only partly filled, she can hold the milk
back more easily and the less there Is in it the
more easily can she maintain the tension Of the
muscular bands necessary to prevent entirely
the milk from flowing through them When
the mixer first takes hold of the teats and be-
gins to milk, the excitement causes the COW to
contract the bands so firmly as TO hold back the
milk perfectly for a time. But presently this
vigorous contraction viii begin To slackerl. and
the milk will begin to pour through, and If al
the milk all settles down upon the teats and is
quickly drawn it can be all milked out to the
very last drop. '..5.
Bnt this perfect relaxation will only last IL
short time. II the milk is not soon extracted
she will begin to tighten up the muscular bands
again, and the last part. OF her mess will be
held back and permanently retained when the
mixer probably thinks he has got it all be-
cause it stops coming. A COW should therefore
be MIXED quickly as wellas quietly. Itisnatural
for her to part with her milk in a few minutes,
and mixer should come as near that time as
possible; If the time OF. milking is much pro-
longed she will become impatient and be sure
not to "give down perfectly. The quickest
mixer gets the most and best milk because hb
gets all the "strippings," !" which are the richest
part. 't.s. tj-.t-.n ...E --.E...
The more quiet and peaceable the cows can be
kept while being MIXED, the more perfect will
be the relaxation of their uddcrs and the longer
will it last. If anything occurs to disturb or ex-
cite or attract their attention, the relaxation
will cease in a moment, and il it occurs near
the close of the milking some of the best milk
will be held back till the next milking, when
it will become the poor, blue milk that is first
drawn. A double loss ensues from every such
occurrence because leaving milk in cows
bag always tends to diminish secretion
..-f5. ID .-- ICanada Farmer.