LLINOIS DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



23 



In the course of a week or ten clays the milk gradually becomes normal 

 and can then he used for the purposes to which milk is generally put. 



As a cow approaches the end of the period of lactation, she becomes 

 feverish and the flow of the milk abnormal. The milk, when thus tainted, 

 should not be used. 



The quality and kind of food, aud the manner of feeding the cow, has 

 a decided effect upon the quality, as well as the quantity of the milk she 

 will give. Noxious weeds, which possess a srong odor, such as onions, 

 and garlic, when eaten by the cow, will produce taints in the milk. 

 Turnips and cabbage will have the same bad effects on the milk, when fed 

 to the cow. The volitile oils, which these plants contain, diffuse through 

 the animal system and gain access to the milk. It was formerly thought 

 that ensilage would transmit an o.lor to the milk, but it is now known 

 that if it is in good condition and rightly fed the milk is not tainted. 



In order that we may get the best possible returns, as well as the 

 best kind of milk, the cow's health should receive the most careful at- 

 tention. The cow is often compared with a machine, but we must re- 

 member that she is a great deal more than a dead, inert structure; she 

 has life and she responds nobly to good treatment and good feeding. It 

 is not enough to merely place the feed before her. The feeder's duty is 

 to see that she has enough to eat and yet not too much. 



When a cow is overfed, which often happens with a greedy one, or 

 with one that has previously received too small a ration for some reason, 

 her system becomes feverish and the milk will be tainted. The sudden 

 'change from dry feed to grass, in particular if the cows are turned on to 

 rye or clover pasture, causes a derangement of the digestive organs and 

 to the milk will be imparted a pronounced, grassy odor. Such changes 

 should be gradual so as to give the digistive organs an opportunity to 

 get adjusted to the change. 



A somewhat similar but less p^ono^nced taint, which like the grass 

 tain'.!, is in evidence when the cow is scouring, may be caused by 

 running, from excitement or from free access to cold water when the cow 



