CHAPTEE XXVI. 



INFLUENCE OF FEED ON MILK WIDE AND NARROW RATIONS. 

 I. Feed in Relation to Milk. 



668. Possible modifications of milk by feed. If feed has any 

 influence on the character of milk, we may suppose these modifi- 

 cations will take one or more of the following forms: 



(a) An increase or decrease in the total quantity of milk yielded. 

 (6) Increasing or decreasing the ratio of solids to water in the 

 milk. 



(c) Changing the ratio of one or more components of the milk 

 with relation to the others. 



(d) Changing the chemical or physical character of one or more 

 components. 



{e} Changing the flavor or odor of milk or derivatives from it. 

 Let us consider these several possible changes in the order pre- 

 sented. 



(a) Effect of Feed on Quantity. 



669. Liberal and meager rations. Most dairymen have learned 

 that under liberal feeding the dairy cow is stimulated to the best 

 niilk returns within her capacity. So generous is the cow in 

 this particular that dairymen will concede they rarely supply 

 their animals sufficient feed to induce the largest flow of milk 

 possible with all members of the herd. With scant rations or 

 those of faulty character, the normal milk flow of the cow is 

 diminished, though she will still yield this fluid for a time while 

 undergoing starvation. Milk being designed for the support of 

 the young, Nature has provided for its supply to the limit of ani- 

 mal endurance. 



670. Influence of character of ration. The abundance and pro- 

 portion of the several nutrients in the ration and the quantity of 

 inert matter it contains may affect the flow of milk. This is il- 



