The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-05-09
MIXERS.
How the Heifer Should be Trained, in
Order to Become Milk Producing Ma
chine.

How the Heifer Should BE Trained, in
chine.
The making of mixer" does not
lie in the breed. However excellent the
milking form, however well developed
the milk-glands, or how excellent may
be the digestion and powers of assimi-
lation, bad care and management and
improper milking will mar all.
The milking cows, especially, must
receive the best care to reach the best
results. In and out of the stable there
must be no nagging, beating, running,
or other means employed to unduly
excite the animal. Cows must be Treated
with the utmost gentleness and yet with
firmness.
The training of the heifer, like that
of the horse, should commence while
yet she is calf, and she should be as
specifically trained for the purpose in
tended as is horse. The dairy COW is
intended to become a machine for the
production of milk. The feeding should
be ample and of such nature as to
produce full development of the stom-
ach, the other digestive organs, and for
the production of strong, muscular
frame. There should be no undue
forcing. Abundant grass in summer
and plenty of hay with liberal amount
of bran and meal Ground oats would
be better), will keep the heifer grow
ing. Above all, there should be no I'M
due stimulation of the generative Or
gans. 1t is better that the first calf be
not produced until the heifer is two-and
a-half years old If so, she may then
go on breeding year by year if her sys-
tenn is kept up by proper food. If she
produce calf at two years old, the
succeeding year should be one of rest,
and the produce of immature animals
should never be reserved for breeding
Training to be MIXED requires special
care. The calf and the heifer should be
caused to stand quietly when the udder
is brushed and handled, and the teats
pulled, for all this will assist in their
better development. The length and
size of the teat is also of special impor-
lance in the makeup of a perfect COW.
All this having been accomplished the
rest is easy. Fearlessness and reliance
III HAL nave UcCIl cSUdUiI SntQ. w Hti
it comes to actual milking, if any great
amount of excitement and resistance is
shown, you may know that there is a
particular cause therefor. Find out
the difficulty. If there is inflammation
or any hardness of the udder relieve it
by fermentation with water as hot as the
hand will comfortably bear, faithfully
applied. If heifer ever becomes vio-
lent do not lose your temper. You can
subdue her far more easily by hamper
calmly applied than by brute violence;
and once subdued, she is gentle for all
time.
1t is not every person who supposes
himself to be an accomplished mixer
who in reality is so. A good mixer is
swift and steady in his work, and the
work is performed without pain to the
COW, but rather with comfort. The
nails should not be unduly long, but it
is not necessary that they be kept pared
to the quick. 1t is the balls of the
fingers and not the tips that do the real
work in milking. The thumb and fore
finger gather the milk and the other
three press it out There should be no
stripping with the thumb and finger or,
IN TACT, pulllng OF any KIND, however
small, the teats. If very small portion
of the udder may be grasped.
There is no reason why such should
be the case, but it is true, nevertheless,
that women are. as a rule, the best
mixers. The only reason is that they
manage a COW by the law of kindness.
If all who milk were made to observe
this law, and that other valuable one al
labor, the law of silence, men would be
better mixers than women, because
they have more strength, and it requires
strength to milk well. Yet the act of
milking is fully as much conducive to
the beauty of the hand as piano-playing.
and for the reason that it exercises every
muscle naturally and completely. Not
only this, the whole arm to the shoulder
becomes beautifully rounded. Yet
milking is not learned in day. 1t is
terribly tiresome to the muscles at first,
even to swelling. Therefore girls who
aspire to the art should not attempt
more than one COW to bsgin with.
Gradually the number can be Increased
- the hands acquire muscularity and
power Chicago Tribune.