STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 227 



It is common for a cow to continue a yield from six to eight 

 months before she gives below 12 quarts per day, at which time 

 she has usually, if not invariably gained weight. The cows giving 

 less than 12 quarts, and down to 5 quarts per day, are found, 

 when free from ailment, to gain without exception. This gain, 

 with an average yield of nearly 8 quarts per day, is at the rate 

 of 7 lbs. to 8 lbs per week each. 



" My cows in calf I weigh only in the incipient stages, but they 

 gain perceptibly in condition and consequently in value. They 

 are milked till within four to five weeks previous to calving. I 

 give the weights of three of these, and also of one heifer which 

 calved in March, 1855 : 



1854. 

 No. 

 1. Bouj^ht and weighed, July, 



o n a II 



Q (C (t t( 



4. Heifer which calved also 



in March, 1855, weighed " 7 " 9 3 300 



" These observations extend over lengthened periods on the same 

 animals, of from thirty to upwards of fifty weeks. A cow, free 

 from calf and intended for fattening, continues to give milk from 

 ten months to a year after calving, and is then in a forward state 

 of fatness, requiring but a few weeks to finish her for sale to the 

 butchers. It will thus appear that my endeavors to provide fuod 

 adapted to the maintenance and improvement of my milch cows 

 have been attended with success. 



" On examining the composition of the ordinary food which I 

 have described, straw, roots and hay, it a|)pears to contain the 

 nutritive ])roperties whicli are fuund ade(|uate to the maintenance 

 of the animal, whereas the yield of milk lias to be provided for 

 by a suj)p]y of extra food. The rape-cake, bran and bean meal 

 which I give will supply the albumen for the casein; it is somewhat 

 deficient iu oil for the butter, whilst it will supi)ly in excess the 

 phosphate of lime for a full yield of milk. If I take the class of 

 cows giving less than 12 (piarts j)er day, and taking also into 

 account a gain of flesh 7 to 9 pounds i)er week, though I reduce 

 the quantity of extra food by giving less of the bean meal, yet 

 the supply will be more in proportion than witli a full yield; the 

 surplus of nitrogen and phosj)horic acid, or phosphate of lime, will 

 go to enrich the manure. 



