424 MAKUAL OF CATTLE-FEEDING. 



and tills conclusion is confirmed by a large number of other 

 investigations. 



Effect of Fodder in Maintaining the Plow of Milk. 



— In tlie second and tliird periods of tlie above series, ex- 

 tending together over nearly two and one-half months, it 

 was observed that the larger yield of milk caused by the 

 richer food showed itself at once, and continued without 

 very much alteration till the beginning of the fourth pe- 

 riod. Indeed, the yield was somewliat greater during the 

 last part of the third period than during the first part of 

 the second period. 



This illustrates a fact which has been frequently ob- 

 served, viz. : that a rich fodder can render the natxiral de- 

 pression due to the progress of lactation very small, and 

 ensure a nearly constant flow of milk for a considerable 

 thne. Evidently this is no small gain, and one which be- 

 comes more manifest from day to day. 



In the fourth period, in which the animal was fed on 

 hay exclusively, a rapid diminution in the flow of milk 

 was observed, evidently due to the poorer fodder. In the 

 fifth period the fodder was improved, and rendered about 

 equal in quality to that fed in the second and third peri- 

 ods. As a result, we have an increased secretion of milk, 

 but neither on the average nor on any single day w^as 

 the quantity nearly as great as before on a similar fod- 

 der. 



"We thus see that, while a good flow of milk may be 

 maintained for a long time by means of a suitable fodder, 

 it falls rapidly when the fodder is made poorer, and that 

 when it has thus fallen it does not increase again to the 

 former amount on a return to the old fodder. In this case 

 three weeks of hay feeding sufficed to diminish tlife aver- 

 age daily yiekl of milk by about five pounds. 



