FEEDING. 43 



average percentage of fat, and that the animals yielding large 

 quantities of milk yield, in the case of liberal feeding, a milk richer 

 in quality. It has also been found that animals whose milk is 

 absolutely richer in fat, at the same time yield milk relatively 

 richer in fat. As proof of this a few figures may be quoted, which 

 the author selects from a number of available data: 



Fat Total Solids, 



(143) Dutch cows (Kleinhof-Tapiau) ... 3'226 H'913 27'08 



(100) German cows (Eaden) ...... 3-242 11-953 27-13 



(24) Short-horn cows (by Dr. Vieth) ... 4-518 13-948 32-39 



(24) Jersey cows (by Dr. Vieth) ... 4-908 14-596 33-62 



It may be observed, from the above figures, that the milk containing 

 an increased percentage of fat and solids is also always relatively 

 richer in fat. 



From all this it would seem that the secretion of milk is to be 

 regarded as an organic process, which is more or less under the 

 influence and control of' the formation of milk-fat. This has been 

 clearly demonstrated in the case of the secretion of milk by well- 

 treated and liberally-fed cows. 



Hitherto it has been held that cows yielding a large quantity of 

 milk yielded a milk containing a small amount of solids. Assuming 

 that such cows do not receive food sufficient for developing to the 

 fullest extent their milk-forming capacity, this statement may be 

 regarded as generally correct. There are cows, however, which, if 

 richly and liberally fed, not only give a large yield of milk, but 

 also a milk with a high amount of total solids. That this is possible 

 is clear from the predominant action exerted on the percentage of 

 fat by all conditions that influence favourably the yield of milk, and 

 from the observation that the increase in the percentage of fat, if 

 not taking place at a similar ratio, yet increases with the percentage 

 of non-fatty solids. 



The most important quality in a milk cow is the capacity of 

 the milk-glands to yield, with certain feeding, the largest possible 

 quantity of milk of the best possible composition. The rearing of 

 breeds of milk cows possessing such properties has so far received 

 little consideration in Germany, yet the prospect of a great advance 

 in dairying is opened up by efforts in this direction, for all the 

 measures taken to increase the supply of milk, such as good feeding, 

 careful breeding, and other treatment, are almost certain to result in 



