FIFTIETH ANNUAL CONVENTION 179 



EFFECT OF FEEDING TURNIPS ON THE FLAVOR AND 

 ODOR OF MILK. 



By C. J. Babcock, Assistant Market Milk Specialist, Dairy 



Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, 



Object of the Experiment. 



Dairymen realize the importance of succulent feeds 

 in the ration of dairy cows and seek methods whereby a 

 sufficient supply will be available the year round. Al- 

 though silage and soiling crops are the most common succu- 

 lent feeds, root crops are often found in the ration late in 

 the fall and winter. 



Like other succulent feeds, root crops may have a 

 tendency to impart undesirable flavors and odors to the 

 milk. In order to determine whether such flavors and 

 odors are imparted to the milk, feeding experiments were 

 conducted by the Dairy Division at its experiment farm at 

 Beltsville, Md. The specific objects of the investigation 

 were : 



To determine whether feeding turnips affects the fla- 

 vor and odor of milk. 



If such is the case, to determine how turnips may be 

 fed and the milk handled so as to minimize the effect, if 

 objectionable, on the quality of the product. 



Procedure. 

 The Cows. 



The investigation was conducted with four Holstein 

 and four Jersey cows. The cow® selected were giving milk 

 relatively free from abnormal flavors and odors, when fed 

 the basic hay and grain ration. They were representative 

 of their respective breeds, the average weight of the Jer- 

 seys being 935 pounds, and that of the Holsteins 1,290 

 pounds. 



