2 BULLETIN 1190, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
which make the milk objectionable and unpalatable. Such varia- 
tions in flavor and odor are attributed to four causes : 
1. The internal or physical condition of the individual cow. 
2. Absorption within the body of the cow from highly flavored feeds. 
3. Absorption into the milk after production. 
4. Bacterial development within the milk on standing. 
Succulent feeds, such as green alfalfa and green corn, may have 
a tendency to impart undesirable flavors and odors to milk. In 
order to determine to what extent this is true, experiments were 
conducted by the Dairy Division at its experiment farm at Belts- 
ville, Md. It was assumed that the effect of feeding green alfalfa 
on the flavor and odor of milk is similar when used either as soiling 
crop or pasturage. The objects of the investigation may be out- 
lined as follows: 
To determine whether feeding green alfalfa or green corn does affect the flavor 
and odor of milk. 
If that is the case, to determine how these feeds may be so fed and the milk so 
handled as to minimize their effect, if objectionable, on the quality of the product. 
EXPERIMENTAL FEEDING OF GREEN ALFALFA. 
PROCEDURE. 
cows. 
The investigation in regard to green alfalfa was begun with 10 
purebred Jersey cows; as the work proceeded it became necessary 
to release some of the cows at various times and substitute others. 
As a result both Jersey and Holstein cows were used during the 
investigation. So far as possible, cows were selected giving milk 
relatively free from abnormal flavors and odors when fed the basic 
hay and grain ration. The cows were representative of their respect- 
ive breeds, the average weight of the Jerseys being 798 pounds, 
while the Holsteins averaged 1,186 pounds. 
The stage of lactation varied from fresh cows to those nearing 
the end of their lactation period. The average daily milk produc- 
tion of the Jersey cows was 19 pounds, the highest individual daily 
average being 29.5 pounds and the lowest 8.7 pounds. The Holstein 
cows gave an average daily milk production of 30.5 pounds, the 
highest individual daily average being 49.6 pounds and the lowest 18 
pounds. The average daily milk production of all cows was 22.1 
pounds. 
FEED OTHER THAN GREEN ALFALFA. 
In addition to green alfalfa, the cows received varying amounts 
of the following grain mixture: Hominy feed, bran, and oats, 100 
pounds each; cottonseed meal and linseed meal, 50 pounds each. 
The amount fed varied with the amount of milk produced. The 
daily average to all the cows was 10.4 pounds. The largest average 
amount received by an individual cow was 14.4 pounds, the smallest 
2.4 pounds. 
The ration was then completed by feeding the cows what cured 
alfalfa hay they would readily consume. This varied considerably, 
ranging from none to 18 pounds, depending upon the amount of green 
alfalfa the cows were receiving. The average daily amount received 
was 9.8 pounds. 
