CONTENT OF COW'S MILK 



7 



experience, finds that winter milk is of very good quality 

 while summer milk is the poorest ; the spring and autumn are 

 transition periods. The quality varies in an inverse ratio to 

 the quantity yielded. Eichmond gives the following table : 



Mean Monthly Averages of Milh. 



3. Morning and Evening Variations. — In this country 

 cows are milked twice a day, and the afternoon milk is always, 

 or nearly always, richer in fat than the morning milk. As 

 regards solids not fat the difference is comparatively slight. 

 The variations in fat content are sometimes considerable with 

 the same cows. The essential cause is the difference in time 

 between the milkings. When the intervals between successive 

 milkings are approximately equal the morning and afternoon 

 milks are nearly identical in quality, the morning milk being 

 still slightly richer in fat. With the extension of the interval, 

 the percentage of fat in the milk drawn after the longer 

 interval steadily falls. 



4. Influence of Feeding. — Food exerts a considerable effect 

 upon the quantity and particularly the quality of the milk. 

 The effect is variable, and the individuality of the cow counts 

 for much. The percentage of fat is apparently more readily 

 and markedly affected by the food content than the other con- 

 stituents of the milk. The beneficial effects of good feeding 

 are not always manifested at once, and in some cases are most 



