Methods of Milking a Cow

According to the Dairy Council, making milk a part of your regular diet can help bone growth and development, guard against obesity, keep teeth strong and healthy and reduce the risk of certain cancers. Milk comes from cows and must be extracted by humans. There are two methods of milking a cow: either by hand or with a machine. But there are also other factors to consider when milking with these techniques to ensure maximum production and quality of milk.

  1. Hand Milking

    • Milking a cow by hand is generally done by farmers or livestock owners who have 15 cows or fewer and don't want to invest in costly milking machines. According to Countryfarm Lifestyles, the most important element in hand milking is cleanliness. That is, your hands, the cow teat and the bucket you're storing the milk in should be clean. After preparing, place a bucket firmly between your legs and try to make your way underneath the cow. The teat should be grasped by the full hand, with the thumb and forefinger at the top of the teat. Then you must work to press the milk out, occasionally releasing the grip of your thumb and forefinger to allow milk to flow down the teat from the udder.

    Machine Milking

    • In machine milking, it's important to first clean and dry the teats before administering the machine. The milker should then stimulate the cow's teats and apply the machine to the teats in two minutes or less to prevent air from entering the milking system and to capture as much milk as possible. Milking machines generally contain a series of rubber hoses that attach to the teat and then capture the milk into a larger storage container. A pulsator helps extract the milk from the cow. According to NMC, cows milked by machine typically milk out in five to 10 minutes.

    Cultural Differences in Milking

    • Although the two primary methods for cow milking are by hand and with a machine, how this is executed varies by country and culture. This is especially evident in hand milking. For example, according to the Western Cape Department of Agriculture, British milkers position themselves on the right side of the cow, while folks in South Africa position themselves on the left. In France, they milk animals from their backside.

    Other Information

    • According to Countryfarm Lifestyles, cows need to be milked twice a day and at the same times every day in order for them to be most generous with their milk. On top of this, they also must be handled with care. This includes executing the milking in a quiet, relaxed environment where the cow is unable to pick up on any stresses. Another thing milkers should be on the lookout for is mastitis, a bacterial illness that is caused by lack of regular milking. Cows with mastitis produce milk that is unsafe to drink. The condition is best treated with antibiotics.