MILK PRODUCTION 323 



striking is the case of high-grade cows yielding annually 

 over half a ton of milk solids, and when we remember 

 the performance of Duchess Skylark Ormsby, whose 

 27,761 pounds of milk produced in one year certainly con- 

 tained approximately 3,700 pounds of solid matter or 

 more than twice the weight of the cow, we must regard 

 the cow as possessing wonderful powers of transmutation. 

 Her capacity for the rapid and economical production of 

 human food of the highest quality is not equaled by any 

 other animal. 



No facts could more forcibly illustrate the necessity 

 of liberal and proper rations for the milch cow. 



423. Uses of nutrients in milk production. This 

 ration is used in various directions. It must supply the 

 raw materials for milk formation, provide for the growth 

 of the foetus, sustain the effort of milk secretion, and 

 maintain the usual and necessary functions of the animal 

 body. The nature and extent of these uses are in part 

 quite definitely understood. First of all, the kind and 

 quantity of milk solids may be estimated for any given 

 case. The daily production of 30 pounds of average milk, 

 a performance reasonably to be expected in a good herd, 

 involves the elaboration of 3.87 pounds of milk solids. 

 Thirty pounds of high-grade milk would contain not less 

 than 4.6 pounds of solids. For mere maintenance it is 

 fair to assume that the food requirements of the cow and 

 steer would not be greatly unlike, disregarding the 

 demand for energy utilized in milk secretion, and for the 

 material used in the growth of the young. On this basis 

 the milk solids and the maintenance needs of a non-pro- 

 ductive cow call for about 11.2 to 12 pounds of dry matter 

 daily, a quantity utterly insufficient, as experience teaches, 

 to maintain a cow giving 30 pounds of any kind of milk. 



