DAIRYING 23 



by the way she is milked, and third, by the time of the beginning 

 of the next milking period. 



A cow having a natural tendency to give milk will often con- 

 tinue milking until near calving time, and such a one is nearly 

 always a profitable cow even if she does not give a large quantity 

 at any one milking. The cow which gives a large flow of milk 

 for a few months and then stands dry for several months is less 

 likely to pay as well as the persistent milker. The length of the 

 lactation period naturally varies, but observations made from the 

 records of 665 cows have shown that a "standing dry" period of 

 40 to 75 days is advisable for milch cows. * 



The general tendency with cows is to give the maximum 

 amount of milk soon after freshening or early in the lactation 

 period, and then the flow gradually diminishes until the end of the 

 period when the cow is "dry." 



169. The period of lactation may be lengthened by milking 

 the cow regularly and by taking pains to strip her at each milking. 

 Failing to do this will help to dry up the cow ; and this is some- 

 times necessary in order to have a period of about six weeks rest 

 or "standing dry." 



170. The decline in the flow of milk is not uniform with all 

 cows, some fall off gradually, others drop suddenly in their milk 

 flow, and still others are rather intermittent in giving milk. 



171. The milk flow generally increases during the first and 

 sometimes through the second month, but this is influenced by the 

 feed during the flush of the milking period. Changes in feed, 

 especially from dry feed to pasture have a great influence on the 

 milk flow. The effect of the advance in the lactation period on 

 the richness of the milk is comparatively uniform with cows. 

 Fleischman found that with 16 cows, the milk of 15 increased in 

 richness, and one decreased from the first to the last week of the 

 milking period. The milking period of one cow was divided into 

 four parts with the following results : * 



* Kirchner Milchwirtschaft. 



* Kirchner Milchwirtschaft. 



