270 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



large amount of milk on account of having a strong stimu- 

 lation applied to her udder. This removes a large amount 

 of nutrients from the body; as a result, like the animal that has 

 had violent exercise, she has a strong appetite and consumes 

 a large quantity of food. This capacity is inherited, and can- 

 not be put into a cow by feeding. The keen appetite and 

 strong digestion of the good dairy cow do not cause the 

 heavy milk production, but are a result of it. The feeder's 

 business is to make the best use of what capacity for produc- 

 ing milk the cow inherits, and supply all the nutrients neces- 

 sary to use this milk-making capacity to the limit. If the 

 animal is not given sufficient feed, the reserve material is 

 drawn upon for a certain length of time, after which the 

 stimulation to produce milk gradually declines. After the milk 

 flow has declined, it is usually found impossible to bring it 

 back to the former higher level. 



Condition of the Cow at Calving. One of the most im- 

 portant factors in obtaining a large production of milk is to 

 have the animal in a good condition when fresh. The fat 

 and other reserve material that are accumulated in the body 

 act as a reserve, which is drawn upon during the first few 

 weeks especially. Liberal feeding before and good con- 

 dition at calving also start the animal at a higher level of 

 milk production than is the case when the animal is not in 

 proper condition, and mean larger possibilities for produc- 

 tion throughout the year. When the cow is in moderate 

 flesh, or a little more than moderate, and has had from four 

 to six weeks' rest before calving, the amount of milk she will 

 be giving at the end of two or three weeks after calving is 

 dependent only in part upon the manner of feeding at that 

 time. It is far more under the control of the natural stimu- 



