18 



BULLETIiSr 1097, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



made to increase the feeding to 20 pounds, but the cows refused to 

 consume that quantity at a feed. It was noted that even when 5 

 pounds were fed in nearly all cases the milk had a detectable feed 

 flavor and odor, and when the quantity was increased to 15 pounds 

 the feed flavor and odor became very objectionable. 



Taule 9. 



-Effect of feeding 5 to 15 pounds of sweet-clover silage once daily 

 one Jiour before milking. 



Result of sampling. 



Milk from cows fed 

 silage. 



MUk from 

 cows not 

 fed silage. 



Before 

 aeration. 



After 

 aeration. 





30 



30 



30 







Off flavor . . ... . 



28 

 2 



20 : 





10 • 30 







Off odor . . . 



29 



21 



No off odor 



9 1 30 









EFFECT OF AER.\TION. 



When the milk from the cows fed up to and including 15 pounds 

 before milking was aerated, the intensity of the feed flavor and odor 

 was diminished, as shown in the table. In the opinion of the judges 

 sufficient of the feed flavor and odor had been removed during aera- 

 tion to render the milk palatable. 



This experiment shows that even as little as 5 pounds of sweet- 

 clover silage, when fed before milking, produced a feed flavor; 10 

 pounds produced a decided feed flavor and odor, and 15 pounds so 

 increased tlie intensity as to render the milk, if unaerated, objection- 

 able to the average consumer. It is also shown that aeration so re- 

 duced the flavor and odor present, when 5 pounds were fed, as to 

 cause it largely to disappear. "When 10 pounds were fed and the milk 

 aerated, the sweet-clover silage flavor and odor persisted. "\^^ien 15 

 pounds were fed and the milk aerated, while the flavor and odor was 

 somewhat stronger, a decided reduction in the degree had taken 

 place. In the case of this silage, the odor, after aeration, seemed 

 more tenacious than the flavor. 



In this experiment, as in others, check results were obtained with 

 alternate cows not fed silage. There was a total lack of feed flavor 

 and odor in the milk from these cows. 



2. FEEDING SWEET-CLOVER SILAGE AFTER MILKING. 



The next experiment was carried on to ascertain the quantity of 

 sweet-clover silage that could be fed after milking and the methods 

 of handling necessary to overcome the objectionable effects. 



