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The Action of the Mechanical Milker in Relation to Completeness of Milking and Udder Injury¹

University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

ABSTRACT

1. A technique is described whereby the excised udder may be used in the study of milking by mechanical means and results of observations of the action of the mechanical milker on both excised and intact glands are reported.
   
2. When milk flows freely from the gland sinus into the teat there is no detectable vacuum created within the teat sinus.
   
3. When the intra-glandular pressure is sufficiently reduced the tissues become more flaccid and the teat cups crawl upward to cause a complete closure of the orifice between the teat and gland sinuses. This fact accounts for the reported incomplete milking of some cows by machine.
   
4. Tugging upon the teat cups, when they begin to crawl, with sufficient force to bring them part way down on the teats will prevent closure of the passage and permits complete evacuation of all of the milk in the gland without resorting to hand milking.
   
5. When the teat cups have crawled upward to close the passage from the gland sinus to the teat the vacuum within the teat becomes identical to that in the milk line. It is postulated that this will have a traumatizing action upon the tissues being compressed. Attention is directed to the location of accessory secreting glands in the gland sinus and often in the upper part of the teat sinus. These are easily injured which predisposes to mastitis.
   
6. Good hand milkers apply a greater force to the teat with each squeeze than does the milking machine at ordinary recommended vacuums.
   
7. Observations of the action of the milking machine upon the teat and udder explains why milking speed is increased by stimulating the cow to let down milk before the milking is started.
   
8. It is concluded that when the mechanical milker is properly operated, especially removed as soon as the milk ceases flowing there is less danger of injury to the teat and udder than from hand milking.
   

¹ Scientific Journal Series Paper No. 2124. Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.