410 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



different stages of lactation. Between different individuals in the 

 same herd, the same breed and different breeds is a variation amount- 

 ing sometimes to the difference between less than 3 and more than 

 7 per cent fat. In general, the richest milk is j^roduced in the smallest 

 quantity, and poor quality is compensated by a large flow. 



Colostrum. — The first milk after parturition differs from true milk 

 in containing double the solids and ash, a large part of the former 

 being albumen. It is not, therefore, like true milk, nor adapted to the 

 same purjjoses of use; but is more like eggs, and particularly rich in 

 nutrients suited to the early feeding of the calf. It should be remem- 

 bered, when feeding it in place of skim milk, that one quart of colos- 

 trum is about equal to four quarts of skim milk, and its use be 

 governed accordingly. 



Feed. — The kind and amount of food consumed by cows exerts less 

 influence upon the fat content of milk than farmers are wont to sup- 

 pose. Thousands of actual determinations of fat have confirmed this 

 truth. A prominent reason why farmers do not accept this result is, 

 that they observe things from a different point of viev/; they never 

 have determined actual fat, hence are not qualified to judge of its 

 variation; they have merely observed the color and the "amount of 

 cream." Scientific people never base their determinations of quality 

 upon cream, which is far more variable and elusive than milk itself. 



First and Last Milk. — Determinations indicate that the fat con- 

 tent of first or "fore" milk is about 2 per cent, while the "strippings" 

 or last milk tests 8 to 10 per cent. Farmers are generally aware that 

 a difference exists, but do not aj^preciate its importance. It is right 

 here that the whole subject of quality, so far as this paper is concerned, 

 centres. Many losses occur through ignorance of this point, which 

 may be best illustrated by concrete examples. 



A. — A young man entered a fine Devon cow in a butter-fat pro- 

 ducing contest at a fair. The award was to be based upon the actual 

 fat found in twenty-four hours' milk, weighed and determined by the 

 Babcock test. From appearances this Devon cow was a certain win- 

 ner. So confident was her owner that he milked her quickly each time, 

 and gave himself little apparent concern over the results. A com- 

 petitor with a good grade Jersey, not so confident, but determined to 

 go the limit, milked his cow, and then kneaded her udder and stripped 

 and stripped, until he could get no more. He secured a $25 prize by 

 2 ounces of fat over the Devon. Had the owner of the latter put his 

 pride in his pocket, and done about fifteen minutes stripping, he would 

 probably have been repaid at the rate of .flOO per hour for his time. 



B. — Some people producing cream and veal from the same cows 

 were wont to milk the herd partially, and let the calves finish. Had 

 they reversed the order, both the veal and the cream products would 

 have been more satisfactory. 



C. — Mr. Brown keeps a mixed farm, where his men do the field 



