440 Feeds and Feeding. 



higher percentage of total solids; that is, the milk from the past- 

 ure contains less water. 



Sebelien' calls attention to similar changes in the composition 

 of milk produced by Norwegian cows while on mountain pastures 

 aa compared with that produced in the valleys. 



Conclusions are not uniform in this particular, as shown by the 

 findings of Lawes and Gilbert, * who write: "The yield of milk 

 was, however, in a much greater degree increased by grazing 

 than by any other change in the food; and with us, at any rate, 

 the influence of roots comes next in order to that of grass, 

 though far behind it, in this respect. But with grazing, as has 

 been shown, the percentage composition of the milk is consider- 

 ably reduced; though, owing to the greatly increased quantity 

 yielded, the amount of constituents removed in the milk whilst 

 grazing may, nevertheless, be greater per head per day than 

 under any other conditions." 



With such conflict of opinion may we not agree with Sebelien, 

 who suggests that the general feeling of well-being, the influence 

 of sunlight, the pleasant spring weather and an outdoor life have 

 more to do with the change produced, whether the fat is increased 

 or decreased percentagely, than does the change in feed itself. 



With the coming of spring, the cows that have long been con- 

 tined to their quarters in the stable find life irksome; the rough- 

 age at this time becomes dry and loses in aroma and palatability. 

 Then, too, the animals are shedding their coats. These factors 

 combine against normal milk production in the last days of con- 

 finement, and make the contrast of pasture life with its succulent 

 feed all the more marked. 



673. Watery feed does not necessarily make watery milk. — Ee- 

 viewing the subject broadly, we may conclude that succulent feeds 

 have no deleterious effect upon the composition of milk; on the 

 other hand, in many cases they may have a beneficial influence. 

 It is entirely possible that such highly-diluted feeds as distillery 

 slops, beet chips and wet brewers' grains, when fed in abnormal 

 quantities for long periods, may prove prejudicial, though we can 

 point to no definite experiments showing such results. 



« Tidskr. f. u. Landbr., II, 208. » Jour. Roy. Agrl. Soc, 1895. 



