206 



DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



of two or three days this gradually changes to normal milk. The 

 colostrum differs from milk in its high content of solids, albumen, 

 and ash, while the percentages of fat and sugar which it contains 

 are somewhat lower than those of normal milk. Owing to the 

 high albumen content, colostrum will thicken (coagulate) on heat- 

 ing. The average chemical composition of colostrum and normal 

 cows' milk and milk of other farm animals will be seen from the 

 following table: 



Average Composition of Milk, in Per Cent (Konig) 



The colostrum of the other milk-producing animals is corre- 

 spondingly high in albumen and ash compared with that of milch 

 cows. Whole milk is the first feed of young animals, and is a com- 

 plete feed, containing all the elements necessary for the sustenance 

 and growth of the young. On account of the relatively large fat 

 globules in milk rich in butter fat, this is not, however, adapted for 

 feeding young pigs and lambs; digestive disturbances are likely to 

 occur when such milk is fed, 2 and animals do not make as satisfac- 

 tory gain on such milk as on whole milk lower in fat or on skim milk. 

 A similar harmful effect of an excess of fat in the milk has been 

 frequently observed in feeding infants. 



Calves are fed the dam's milk for only a day or two after freshen- 

 ing in ordinary farm practice, except in the case of beef, exhibition, 

 or breeding , stock, which often receive whole milk for several 

 months, when they are fed skim milk, with ground flaxseed, ground 

 grain, or mill feeds until they can eat and digest hay and concen- 

 trates (p. 221). 



In the feed-unit system three pounds of whole milk are given 

 an equivalent value to one feed unit (one pound of grain). We 

 may assume that it will require six pounds of whole milk, on the 

 average, for a pound of gain with young calves, or one-half the 

 amount of skim milk required. 



a Storrs (Conn.) Bulletin 31. 



