g used in the stalls may have a marked influence
on the contamination coming from the animal. If the straw is dusty,
partially rotten and moldy, the bacteria and molds adhere to the
coat of the animal and are thus introduced into the milk. In the
case of cattle on pasture, no visible evidences of dirt are usually
present but the hair is covered with the dust coming from the soil.
There is very good reason to believe that the quality of milk is
influenced by the type of pasture on which the cows graze, due to
the difference in the types of bacteria in the surface soil. The
milk from animals on low land is more likely to show undesirable
fermentations than that from those grazing on higher lands. This is
not due to the influence of the feed as is often supposed but rather
to the dirt from the coat of the animal.

=Washing the udder.= If a surface is moist, dust and the adherent
bacteria cannot be easily dislodged. The air over snow-covered
mountains or over oceans is relatively free from bacteria. The udder
and flanks of the animals can be carded to remove the loose hairs
and the evident dirt; the fine dust can now be removed by wiping
with a clean damp cloth just before the milking process. The actual
washing and wiping of the udder and flanks still further reduces the
contamination coming from the animal; experiments show a reduction
of fully three-fourths of total contamination. Clipping the udder
and flanks also aids in keeping the animal clean.

It is often asserted that the treatment of the animals in these ways
reduces the yield of milk. It is certain that such an effect will
persist for only a short time and there is reason to believe that
grooming increases the yield.

[Illustration: Fig. 12.--Sanitary Milk Pails.

The small opening is very efficient in keeping the dirt out of
milk.]

=Sanitary milk pails.= The entrance of organisms into the milk can be
greatly reduced by lessening the area of the milk pail exposed to
the dust shower. To accomplish this purpose a number of so-called
sanitary or hygienic milk pails have been devised. In some cases,
these are the regular type of pail provided with a cover having a
small opening through which the milk is received. In other cases, a
strainer is interposed so as to remove more effectually the coarse
particles. While pails of this type are successful in the removal of
a large part of the dirt, and consequently reduce materially the
bacterial content of the milk,