Studies in Milk Secretion. . 65 



cows AT PASTURE AND NOT AT PASTURE. 



Of the 210 separate tests made, 124 were of animals at pasture 

 and which also received more or less grain. The remaining 86 

 cows were entirely stall fed. A stud^^ of the Summar}- of Table 

 1 shows a variation in production between those at pasture and 

 those not at pasture. The number at pasture is considerably 

 larger than the number not at pasture, and for this reason a com- 

 parison of averages does not carry so much weight as if there 

 were the same number in each class, but because of the large 

 number in each class we can draw conclusions that are fairly 

 representative. Indeed the number of three-j^ear olds at pasture 

 is the same as those not at pasture and their records bear approxi- 

 mately the same relation to each other as do those of the two and 

 four-year olds. 



In production of milk, the average for two, three and four- 

 year olds at pasture is greater than the average for the same ages 

 among those not at pasture. On the other hand, the cows not at 

 pasture have a higher average production of fat than those of 

 corresponding ages at pasture. This is because the milk of the 

 stall fed cows averages about one-tenth of one per cent higher in 

 fat. When we come to the full aged cows the order is different, 

 for here the stall fed cows average higher than those at pasture 

 in production of milk as well as in total fat and per cent of fat. 

 The difference in average production is 22.789 pounds of milk, 

 1.383 pounds of fat and .19 per cent fat. Taking the average of 

 all the records we find the animals not at pasture exceed those at 

 pasture in average weekl}- production b}^ 7-035 pounds of milk, 

 .791 pounds of fat and .16 per cent fat. 



From these averages it would seem that there is a slight advan- 

 tage in production to be obtained by judicious stall feeding over 

 pasture feeding. Whether this results from feed alone or from 

 weather and temperature effects is not determined. Some feeders 

 prefer stall feed and cool, brisk winter weather for the best 

 results. Others claim thev can obtain better records in summer 

 with rich pasture and bright, hot weather. Instances ma}^ be 

 found which tend to show that both ma}" be right. The matter 

 ma3" resolve itself into the question as to during which season 

 the effects of temperature and weather upon the comfort of the 



