1921.] 



Silage for Dairy Cows. 



511 



daily yields at the changing dates gives no indication that any 

 change in the feeding had taken place. 



Effect of Silage on the Quality of the Milk. — Unfortunately 

 it was not possible to take samples of milk from each cow daily, 

 so that no detailed information concerning the effect of silage on 

 the quality of the milk was procured. A few days after the 

 experiment began samples of milk were taken morning and 

 evening and analysed from all the cows taking part in the trial, 

 and again on 12th January, nine days after the rations were 

 changed over, samples were again taken and analysed. The 

 results may be conveniently summarised as follows : — 



Fat. • 



Lot A. Per Cent. 



Average quality of Milk from Mangold Ration ... 3*56 



Silage Ration ... 3"50 



Lot B. 



Average quality of Milk from Silage Ration ... 4*60 



„ Mangold Ration ... 3*96 



Average percentage of fat in milk produced from Mangold Ration ... 3*74 

 J, ,, „ ., Silage Ration ... 4*00 



Little importance can be attached to the apparent improve- 

 ment in the quality of the milk from silage, since it was entirely 

 due to a fall in the quality of the milk from I.ot B when changed 

 from the silage ration to the mangold ration. The quality of the 

 milk from Lot A was practically the same on both rations. While 

 it is impossible to lay any stress on the figures suggesting an 

 improvement, the result shows there is no reason to anticipate 

 a,ny adverse effect on the quality of the milk by substituting 

 silage for mangolds. 



In the United States some of the milk-condensing factories 

 have refused to accept milk from dairies where silage is fed, 

 but this action is by no means general, and the rapidly extend- 

 ing use of silage is evidence that the prejudice against it is 

 steadily being overcome. It is difficult to ascertain the specific 

 reason for such objection, although it is maintained that experts 

 can detect an odour of silage in milk from silage -fed cows. 

 In the experiment in question no such noticeable odour or flavour 

 v/as associated with the milk, and no complaints were made by 

 the consumers. If milk is reasonably handled and properly 

 cooled no objection should be experienced. If on the other 

 hand milk is left uncooled in an atmosphere smelling strongly 

 of silage it will quickly pick up the flavour of the material — 

 a remark which applies in connection with the use of several 

 •other feeding stuffs. 



