Innuenee of Feed on MUk. 439 



iBg 31.8 poTiTids daily. It is evident that the character and quan- 

 tity of feed given directly affect the flow of milk, and over-feed- 

 ing or the use of improperly compounded rations may bring poor 

 results as well as under-feeding. 



{b) Increasing or Decreasim/ the Ratio of Solids to Water in Milk. 



671. Influence of succuient feed. — It is commonly asserted that 

 feculent feed causes thinner milk, i. e., renders it more watery. 

 Schmoeger, i at the Proskau Dairy Institute, showed that feeding 

 30 liters (quarts) of distillery slop daily per head to a herd of 

 37 cows did not affect the composition of milk, the average solids 

 being 11.83 per cent, and fat 3.29 per cent, with the slop feeding 

 as against 11.61 per cent, and 3.28 per cent., respectively, during 

 the previous period. 



Trials by Armsby, feeding green and dried grass to milch cows, 

 showed no change in the composition of the milk because of the 

 more succulent grass. (265) In the Danish experiments, where 

 roots were fed, the highest per cent., of solids appeared in the milk 

 of cows receiving the largest quantity of roots. (657) 



672. Influence of pasture. — The effect of pasture on the com- 

 position of milk should here receive consideration. The Copen- 

 hagen Station 2 conducted trials with 240 cows for two years. The 

 per cent, of fat in the milk of these cows, when stall-fed with dry 

 feed and when on pasture, was as follows: 



Lot A. Lot B. Lot C. 



Stall feeding, dry feed. ... 3.27 per cent 3.25 per cent. 3.26 per cent. 

 Pasture 3.40 per cent. 3.39 per cent. 3.39 per cent. 



There was a slightly higher fat content with cows on pasture in 

 all cases. 



At the Vermont Station, ^ Hills, studying the change in com- 

 position of milk of cows changed fi'om barn to pasture during 

 five years, concludes: ''The evidence appears overwhelming that 

 cows on early pasturage — May and June — make not only more, 

 but richer, milk than during the last months of their barn life." 

 In these cases the higher fat content is always accompanied by a 



' Milch Zeit., 1883, 129. 

 » Kept. 27, 1891-92. 

 • Rept. 1893. 



