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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1190 
Washington, D. C. T November 16, 1923 
EFFECT OF FEEDING GREEN ALFALFA AND GREEN CORN 
ON FLAVOR AND ODOR OF MILK. 
By C. J. Babcock, Assistant Market Milk Specialist, Dairy Division, Bureau of 
Animal Industry. 
CONTENTS. 
Causes of undesirable flavors and odors in milk 1 
Experimental feeding of green alfalfa 2 
Procedure 2 
Feeding 15 pounds one hour before milking 5 
Feeding 30 pounds one hour before milking 5 
Feeding 15 pounds immediately after milking 6 
Feeding 30 pounds immediately after milking 6 
Feeding 30 pounds three and five hours before milking 7 
Effect of immediate aeration of the milk 8 
Experimental feeding of green corn 10 
Procedure 10 
Feeding 25 pounds one hour before milking 11 
Feeding 25 pounds immediately after milking 11 
Conclusions :- 12 
CAUSES OF UNDESIRABLE FLAVORS AND ODORS IN MILK. 
During times when pastures are short, in the summer months, or 
in intensive farming where pasture land is not available, the dairy- 
man is forced to seek means to prevent milk production from de- 
creasing below a normal level. Usually one of two methods is 
employed — either sufficient silage is provided for year-round feeding 
or soiling crops are used. 
Green alfalfa and green corn make excellent soiling crops. The 
rapid growth of green alfalfa, both during early spring and after 
cutting, together with the fact that it yields fron three to five cut- 
tings during the season, enables the grower to have a supply avail- 
able for feeding from comparatively early spring until late fall. 
Alfalfa is also used frequently as pastfurage. Green corn is com- 
monly grown as a crop for feeding cows, because it is available 
during the late summer, when pastures are likely to be dry and 
short. 
Cow's milk has more or less pronounced flavors and odors. 1 These 
flavors vary from those that are pleasing to the taste to others 
1 The effect of silage on the flavor and odor of milk has been studied and reported in United States Depart- 
ment of Agriculture Bulletin No. 1097, The Effect of Silage on the Flavor and Odor of Milk. 
Note.— The author acknowledges the assistance of T. E. Woodward, in charge of the dairy experi- 
ment farm, Beltsville, Md., and of H. T. Converse, dairy husbandman, who supervised the experimental 
work at the farm. Thanks are due also to members of the market milk section of the Dairy Division, who 
judged the many samples of milk. 
56752°— 23— Bull. 1190 
