THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



347 



DAIRY MANAGEMENT. 

 BY THOMAS HORSFALL. 



[from the "journal of the royal agricultural society."] 



On resuming my observations for the Society's Journal 

 on the treatment of dairy cows, I cannot properly omit to 

 explain circumstances which appear in some degree to have 

 influenced the results during the present season. 



Towards the close of July, 1856, and during the warm 

 weather of August, my cows whilst in pasture by day and 

 housed daring the night, were attacked by that unwelcome 

 visitor the pleuro-pneuraonia, which affected the majority of 

 them, and continued with little intermission to the close of 

 December. Though by treatment which I purpose to de- 

 scribe, nearly all have been restored, yet it is not without 

 more or less damage to the lung — or organ essential to the 

 due performance of every function of the animal, and exer- 

 cising especial influence on the respiratory process, and the 

 carbonaceous or fatty products. 



In the course of my experience I have ascertained that 

 cattle, whose lungs have been damaged by a previous attack 

 of pleuro or other cause, are deficient in their store of loose 

 fat, in comparison with what their touch, appearance, and 

 the length of time they have been feeding, would lead one 

 to expect. To the same cause I am disposed to attribute 

 the somewhat lessened proportion of butter to milk and to 

 cream, during the present, compared with what I have 

 observed during several other seasons from similar treat- 

 ment.* The proportions have been, from each quart of 

 cream, 20 oz. of butter; and from 16 quarts of milk, 20 oz. 

 of butter. On testing the quality of the milk by a lacto- 

 meter, I find the proportion of cream less from those which 

 have suffered from pleuro than those which have remained 

 healthy : in one or two instances the difference is marked. 

 In the quantity or yield of milk after recovery, I find little 

 if any difference beyond what might have been expected 

 from the lapse of time during illness. 



On the 23rd of March the following results appeared : — 

 Quarts. Oz. 



gim'LVuedV.ISl-^-^ofbutter.... 402 

 Cream used .... 3 would have made .... 60 



or — 462 



20 oz. of butter from 1 quart of cream. 

 20^ oz. of butter from 16 quarts of milk. 



This test was made purposely when the temperature of 

 the dairy ranged at 54 deg. to 56 deg. from the time the 

 milk was set up, without the appliance of hot-water, de- 

 scribed in a former Journal. The consistency of the cream 

 was such, that on filling a cup, a spoon dipped into it stood 

 erect, the cream being quite sweet. 



The most correct way of ascertaining the quantity of 

 thick cream, is to observe the height it reaches in the jar, 

 and then measure the water required to fill the jar to the 

 same height. 



In May, with a considerable change of cows, the results 

 were — 



23|- oz. of butter from 1 quart of cream. 



22 6-lOths oz. of butter from 16 quarts of milk. 



During the continuance of the disease I was prevented 

 instituting comparisons on the effects of different food : my 

 weighings were likewise discontinued, with the exception 

 of one made. on the 8th of October, when the cows were 

 confined wholly to their stalls. 



• The proportion of butter to milk and errata in the winter 

 of 1851-55 was shown in my last paper (Journal, vol. xvii. 

 p. 358) to have been — 



25 oz, of butter from 16 quarts of milk. 



25 oz. of butter from 1 quart of cream. 



Comparison of different Methods of Feeding 

 Dairy Cows. 



Being desirous of comparing the result of my method of 

 feeding dairy cows with the system usually practised in 

 this locality, it occurred to me that as my cows had been 

 accustomed to savoury steamed food, a change to ordinary 

 food would be attended with less favourable results than if 

 they had been previously treated in the common mode ; and 

 that under these circumstances it would be better to insti- 

 tute comparisons with two near neighbours, Mr. Smith and 

 Mr, Pawson, whose practice and results I had the oppor- 

 tunity of inspecting. 



Mr. Smith's cow was of rather small frame, but noted for 

 her usefulness as a good milker. At the time of calving her 

 third calf, about the Tith of November, she was in good 

 condition, and gave soon after 17 quarts of milk per day. 

 Her owner states that in the first three weeks (up to the 

 time this comparison was begun) her condition sensibly 

 diminished — a result which I apprehend will be invariable 

 with cows giving this quantity of milk when fed on meadow 

 hay only, with which Mr. Smith's cow was supplied ad 

 libitum, and of which she consumed 28 lbs. per day. Mr. 

 Pawson's was a nice heifer, three years old at the time of 

 calving her first calf, October 6th, in more than ordinary 

 condition, and gave about 16 quarts per day. Her owner 

 states, that on the 1st of January her condition was much 

 diminished ; this is corroborated by Mr. Myers, a dealer in 

 the village, who tells me, that previous to her calving, he 

 was desirous of purchasing her, and would have given from 

 £17 10s. to £18, and describes her as being at that time 

 full of beef Her weight on the 1st of January, 7 cwt. 2 

 qrs., bespeaks her condition as much lowered. 



During the month of October and till late in November, 

 she was turned out in the daytime to graze on aftermath 

 and housed during the night, where she was supplied with 

 turnips. From the close of November till the first week in 

 February her food consisted of — 



Meadow-hay of inferior quality .... 18 lbs. per day. 



Swede turnips 45 „ 



Ground oats 9 „ 



After this the ground oats were discontinued and meadow hay 

 of good quality was given ad libitum, with 451b3. of turnips. 



For comparison I selected a cow of my own, which calved 

 about the 8th of October, and gave soon after 18 quarts of 

 milk per day; she was also Jof small size. At the time of 

 calving her condition was somewhat higher thau that of Mr. 

 Smith's. When the experiment was begun, on the 1st of 

 January, no perceivable difference was found ;ia the yield of 

 milk of Mr. Smith's cow and my own, each giving 15^ quarts 

 per day. 



The following table gives the dates of calving of the three 

 cows, together with their weights and yield of milk at the 

 commencement and termination of the experiment : 



Mr. Smith's cow lost in weight in nine weeks 841b3., being 

 9ilb3. per week, with an average yield of 12^ quarts per day; 

 Mr. Pawson's lost 281bs.: this loss, together with the di- 

 minished yield of milk, occurred [almost wholly after the oats 



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