196 The 'Book of the Goat. 



the icth of May, 700 grammes of hay, 800 grammes of 

 linseed-meal, and 3 litres of water. The quantity of milk 

 it gave averaged 1418 grammes per day. On May nth, 

 the goat had, in addition to the usual solid food, 6.5 

 litres of water; on the i2th, 3.6; and on the i3th, 3.65 

 litres. The yield of milk for these three days rose from 

 1418 grammes to 1566, 1579, and 1618 grammes re- 

 spectively. From an analysis of this milk, as well as of 

 the quantitative determination of its constituent parts, it 

 appeared that the increased secretion was not due to an 

 increased proportion of water contained in it, but to an 

 actual increase of all its constituents. The composition of 

 the milk during the period May nth to i4th corresponded 

 almost exactly with that which it presented both imme- 

 diately before and immediately after. In reference to 

 this point Stohmann says : ' An increased consumption 

 of water favours the secretion of milk, but is unfavourable 

 to fattening ; the production of milk requires a large con- 

 version of albumen, and everything that increases such 

 conversion counteracts fattening.' . . . From this it 

 follows that if attempts are made to increase the secretion 

 of milk by an additional supply of water, care must be 

 taken to ensure also an increased consumption and 

 digestion of food, otherwise the enlarged secretion will 

 go on at the expense of the body generally, the animal 

 will fall off in condition, and consequently soon cease the 

 augmented yield, however much water may be given." 



"Period of Lactation. 



This also varies according to circumstances, the 

 principal conditions being regularity in the hours of 

 milking, the entire abstraction of the milk on each occa- 

 sion, and, finally, the length of time which elapses between 

 the kiddings. The generality of goats give milk in 

 sufficient quantity to be worth drawing during seven or 



