Chapter 27
Laws Relating to Animals on Shabbath and Yom Tov
MILKING
48.a. A farm which has a milking machine may use it on Shabbath, but
1) the machine must be controlled by a timer (timeswitch) set before Shabbath to turn it on and off at predetermined times, and,
2) if the milk is to be used (after Shabbath of course) the connection of the machine to the udder of the animal should be made during an interval when the machine is switched off.
48.b. 1) A serious practical difficulty arises from the fact that most milking machines are designed in such a way that they cannot be connected to the udder unless they are operating.
2) Most authorities agree that, when the connection has to be made while the machine is on, one should milk to waste, for instance onto the floor. (See paragraph 47 above.)
3) Nonetheless, many Shabbath-observant farmers rely on an opinion whereby, if serious loss would otherwise result, one may connect a machine to the udder while the machine is operating, and yet keep the milk for use, provided
a) the first milk extracted goes to waste and
b) the subsequent milk, which is to be kept, is made to flow into the clean container by a separate action and does not merely flow into it automatically after the initial drops have run to waste.
48.c. As mentioned in paragraph 46 above, the milk produced on Shabbath is muktzeh.
