FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 



231 



Stage of Lactation Period. This is of greater importance 

 than the age of the cow. The quality of the milk is, in general, 

 higher during the first few weeks after parturition than later on, 

 and remains fairly constant from this time on until toward the 

 close of the lactation, when the milk becomes richer in solids and 

 fat as the yield decreases (Fig. 44). The following compilation 

 by the author of 300 cows * entered in the Wisconsin Dairy Cow 

 Competition, 1909-1911, will illustrate the changes in production 

 of dairy cows during the progress of the lactation period : 



Average Daily Production of Dairy Cows by Months 



The normal decrease in the flow of milk in well-managed dairy 

 herds is about 5 per cent a month during the second to seventh 

 month of the lactation period, about 10 to 12 per cent during the 

 eighth and ninth months, and 20 per cent for the tenth and subse- 

 quent months. 



Condition. The physical condition of a cow will influence the 

 quality and amount of her milk secretion. A dairy cow in good 

 flesh will give more milk and of richer quality than cows in poor 

 condition. Where cows in a fleshy body condition are placed on 

 official tests shortly after parturition their milk may contain 1 to 2 

 per cent fat above normal during the first 2 to 3 weeks, as has been 

 shown by Eckles and the author ; 5 cows in good flesh directly after 

 parturition will also produce milk of a higher fat content through- 



4 Wisconsin Research Bulletin 26. 



5 Missouri Bulletin 100; Wisconsin Report 19, p. 117; 20, p. 114. 



