MANAGEMENT OF DAIRY CATTLE. 
573 
These observations extend over lengthened periods on the 
same animals, of from 30 to upwards of 50 weeks ; a cow, 
free from calf and intended for fattening, continues to give 
milk from 10 months to a year after calving, and is then in a 
forward state of fatness, requiring but a few weeks to finish 
her for sale to the butchers. 
It will thus appear that my endeavours to provide food 
adapted to the maintenance and improvement of my milch 
cows have been attended with success. 
On examining the composition of the ordinary food which 
I have described, straw, roots, and hay, it appears to contain 
the nutritive properties which are found adequate to the 
maintenance of the animal, whereas the yield of milk has to be 
provided for by a supply of extra food ; the rape-cake, bran, 
and bean-meal which I gave will supply the albumen for the 
casein ; it is somewhat deficient in oil for the butter, w r hilst 
it will supply in excess the phosphate of lime for a full yield 
of milk. If I take the class of cow s giving less than 12 quarts 
per day, and taking also into account a gain of flesh, 7 to 
9 lbs. per week, though I reduce the quantity of extra food 
by giving less of the bean-meal, yet the supply w ill be more 
in proportion than with a full yield ; the surplus of nitrogen 
and phosphoric acid, or phosphate of lime, will go to enrich 
the manure. 
I cannot here omit to remark on the satisfaction I derive 
from the effects of this treatment on the fertility of the land 
in my occupation. My rich pastures are not tending to im- 
poverishment, but to increased fertility ; their improvement 
in condition is apparent. A cow in full milk, giving 16 quarts 
per day, of the quality analysed by Haidlen, requires, beyond 
the food necessary for her maintenance, 6 to 8 lbs. per day 
of substances containing 30 or 2 5 per cent, of protein. A 
cow giving on the average 8 quarts per day, with w*hich she 
gains 7 to 9 lbs. per w r eek, requires 4 to 5 lbs. per day of 
substances rich in protein, beyond the food which is necessary 
for her maintenance. Experience of fattening gives 2 lbs. 
per day, or 14 lbs. per week, as what can be attained on an 
average and for a length of time. If we consider \ lb. per 
day as fat, which is not more than probable, there will be 
I I lb. for flesh, wdiich, reckoned as dry material, will be about 
£ lb. ; which is assimilated in increase of fibrine, and repre- 
sents only 1^- to 2 lbs. of substances rich in protein beyond 
what is required for her maintenance. 
If we examine the effects on the fertility of the land, my 
milch cow 7 s, when on rich pasture, and averaging a yield of 
nine quarts per day, and reckoning one cow 7 to each acre, will 
xxx. 76 
