FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 231 
| Stage of Lactation Period.—This is of greater importance 
than the age of the cow. The quality of the milk is, in general, 
higher during the first few weeks after parturition than later on, 
and remains fairly constant from this time on until toward the 
close of the lactation, when the milk becomes richer in solids and 
fat as the yield decreases (Fig. 44). The following compilation 
by the author of 300 cows‘ entered in the Wisconsin Dairy Cow 
Competition, 1909-1911, will illustrate the changes in productior 
of dairy cows during the progress of the lactation period: 
Average Daily Production of Dairy Cows by Months 
Average daily production by months 
mentee : pmber 
period Milk Solids Fat 
Pounds Pounds Per cent Pounds | Per cent 
43.9 5.63 12.82 1.76 4.01 323 
41.9 5.32 12.70 1.65 3.94 323. 
38.8 4.93 12.70 1.54 3.98 | 323 
36.4 4.65 12.77 1.46 4.02 323 
Discatadesobatee wiser 34.6 441 | 12.75 1.39 4.02 323 
Gots 5 aetenions 32.8 4.18 | 12.74 1.32 4.02 323 
i (renee re ere 30.8 3.92 12.73 1,25 4.06 323 
SS ivspetaubuore clgusreus 27.6 3.57 12.93 | 1.14 4.13 323 
See enn 23.9 3.13 13.10 1.02 4,27 323 
Os icisee eeteea sin 19.2 “2.58 13.44 0.87 4.53 323 
LL enasoeisasaeres 16.7 2.28 13.65 0.78 4.67 251 
OD icsssscraresestarsee nets 14.0 1,92 13.71 0.67 | 4.79 74 
The normal decrease in the flow of milk in well-managed dairy 
herds is about 5 per cent a month during the second to seventh 
month of the lactation period, about 10 to 12 per cent during the 
eighth and ninth months, and 20 per cent for the tenth and subse- 
quent months. 
Condition.—The physical condition of a cow will influence the 
quality and amount of her milk secretion. A dairy cow in good 
flesh will give more milk and of richer quality than cows in poor 
condition. Where cows in a fleshy body condition are placed on 
official tests shortly after parturition their milk may contain 1 to 2 
per cent fat above normal during the first 2 to 3 weeks, as has been 
shown by Eckles and the author ;° cows in good flesh directly after 
parturition will also produce milk of a higher fat content through- 
* Wisconsin Research Bulletin 26. 
5 Missouri Bulletin 100; Wisconsin Report 19, p. 117; 20, p. 114. 
