DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 219 



Colostrum (first milk, beastings) is a fluid which 

 is yielded by the cow at the birth of a calf, and for 

 several days afterwards. It is a yellow, or yellowish 

 brown, liquid of a viscid nature, with a salty taste 

 and a peculiar smell. Compared with ordinary milk, 

 colostrum is richer in dry matter, particularly 

 in protein substances, which coagulate on heat- 

 ing ; it contains also more mineral substances, 

 but is poorer in milk sugar. The action of the 

 colostrum is slightly purgative, and this property 

 is very valuable in the case of young animals, 

 from which it should not be withheld. Some 5-10 

 days after the birth of the calf the milk of the mother 

 gradually returns to its normal condition. 



It has been already noticed in describing the 

 feeding-stuffs of vegetable origin that sometimes 

 after using some of them the milk acquires proper- 

 ties which, although they may be quite non-in- 

 jurious, nevertheless make it unsuitable for rearing 

 young animals. Many poisons and medicinal sub- 

 stances, such as copper, lead, iodine, salicylic acid, 

 etc., it has been repeatedly proved can in some 

 measure pass into the milk. Such milk, as well 

 as that which comes from animals that have been 

 forced to eat suspicious or poisonous plants, ought 

 not to be given to calves, and the same applies to 

 the milk from cows which have partaken of fodder 

 that has been damaged by mud or fumes, bran mixed 

 with sweepings, or other unsuitable food. 



