BREEDS OF DAIRY CATTLE 153 



cases under the impression that the manipulation incident to the 

 washing might affect the per cent of fat in the first milk drawn. The 

 results do not indicate, however, that such was the case. The cows 

 were milked in the usual manner, through a funnel into a pint bot- 

 tle until the first pint was secured, after which they were milked into 

 a pail until nearly finished. Toward the close they were again milked 

 into bottles containing one-fourth of a pint each, and when the milk- 

 ing was finished, the last four quarter pints were taken as represent- 

 ing the last pint drawn. 



It will be noticed that in every case the per cent of solids not fat 

 is higher for the milk first drawn, and the per cent of fat lower; but 

 the difference between the fat of the first and last drawn is much 

 greater than the inverse difference between the solids not fat, and its 

 fluctuations are wider from day to day, and between different cows. 



Pasture Season and Soiling. As soon as the spring grass gets 

 high enough for the cows to get a bite, let them have it. At first the 

 time daily on pasture should be very short, for the good of both pas- 

 ture and cow. The latter should be gradually changed from stable 

 feeding to pasturage, especially if the feeding has been of dry ma- 

 terial or mostly so. And the stable feeding should continue un- 

 changed, undiminished, until the cow herself indicates that she is 

 getting enough grass to replace a part of the stable ration. Then, as 

 the pasturage improves, indoor feeding may be lessened and finally 

 discontinued. If a pasture furnishes an abundance of variety of 

 grasses, there can be no better food found for the milch cow. The 

 nutritive ratio for mixed pasturage is about 1 to 5, which can not be 

 improved for succulent food. But the best of pasture grasses contain 

 from 65 to 75 per cent of water, sometimes more, and the cow must 

 procure a large quantity of this material, 100 pounds or so in the 

 course of a day, to secure the food material required. Shade and 

 water should be carefully looked after in connection with pasturage, 

 as well as the grass. In very large pastures there should be watering 

 places in different parts of the inclosure, as well as shade, that the 

 cows may not be compelled to travel far to find either. 



Until flies become troublesome, cows had better stay in pasture 

 by day and in stable by night, or be left out all tjie time. But in the 

 worst fly time, and perhaps when the sun's heat is greatest, it is good 

 practice to stable the herd during' the day in an airy but shaded 

 cowhouse, and turn it on pasture at night. If the pasture has not 

 abundant shade and water this course should certainly be followed. 

 Heat and flies reduce both quality and quantity of milk product. 

 The trouble from flies can be largely remedied by spraying the cows. 

 (See "Fighting Flies," p. 165.) 



Summer Feeding. Every owner of a cow welcomes the time 

 when the animal can be turned out to pasture. Not only is the labor 

 and expenses connected with winter feeding done away with, but 

 each cow is expected to give the best results of the year on grass. In 

 changing from dry feed to grass, it is best to go somewhat slowly, 

 especially with heavy milking cows. The young, immature grass, 

 such as we have in early spring, contains a large amount of water and 



