FEEDING FARM ANIMALS 



What Influences the Quality of Milk? So far as 

 the question can be decided, the influences that bear 

 most on the quality of milk are breed, heredity 

 and inherent functional capacity. It used to be 

 thought that the kind of food, the care, and the sur- 

 roundings influenced the quality of milk. When put 

 to actual test this was proved to be incorrect. The 

 quantity of milk, on the other hand, may be, and 

 commonly is, influenced by the amount and nature 

 of the food, the treatment bestowed, and the atten- 

 tion given to all details of dairy management. 



The condition of the mammary gland will have 

 much to do with a heavy milk yield. If its capacity 

 is limited, naturally the results will be apparent. Its 

 efficiency is dependent upon the food digested and 

 assimilated. If the food provides the various nutri- 

 ents abundantly and in favorable balance to meet 

 the needs of the body and of milk production, the 

 quantity of milk will reach the maximum possibili- 

 ties of the mammary gland and the quality will be 

 in accordance with the functional nature of this 

 organ. From this it follows that the quality of milk 

 of a given cow is without special variation, but that 

 the quantity will be dependent on food and treat- 

 ment. 



In this connection it may be said that certain 

 foods influence the milk yield. Unappetizing and 

 ill-smelling foods depress milk secretion, although 

 they normally provide the nutrients abundantly. 

 The same foods set before the cows in more appe- 

 tizing and tempting ways often cause an increased 

 flow, although no more provender is consumed. 



