Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-09-01
AnRIcuLTuRAL.
MArHTAMmG AFULL FLOW OF MILK.

~ -
During the months of July and August
in our latitude, the full flow of milk IS
frequently checked. In most instances
grass fails however, farmers have kept
too many animals on a given surface and
many COWS have kept the grass from grow
ing, and the usual How Of milk has d1-
minished. Dairymen slide into this
practice of oyerstocking their pastures at
a season of the year when grass grows
freely. A COW consumes a certain amount
of food to sustain and repair b waste OF
her body. IF she can have more than
enough for this purpose the surplus WILL
be converted into milk. Therefore, II
food is short the flow of milk must newt
ably diminish Breeding is another III
of diminution in the quantity OF milk
Some COWS, even when supplied with all
the good grass they will consume, will tail
off in milk within a few weeks after be-.
coming with calf and there Is sometimes
SO much shrinkage In the amount OF milk,
that a COW might be dried OF IN a short
time. Another common u OF failure
In the flow of milk, Is a want of an album
liant supply of pure water.
These are the chief difficulties that peo-
pie meet with, who keep few or many
cows. To obviate the difficulty of short
-pasturage, a farmer will find it much more
profitable to keep fewer COWS and so have
more and better grass ; as two cows when
kept on as much grass as they Will eat,
will yield more milk than three or four
COWS kept on the same feed, for they
would find barely enough to support AMI
nal life. By overstOcking a pasture,
most of the grass is used up to keep the
animals alive without improving their
condition, while a smaller number would
thrive well, and at the same time give a
good supply of milk-Therefore, in or
der to obtain the greatest amount of but
ter or cheese from a given amount OF pas
COWS and to feed well. he grass fails,
they should have at least one feeding
daily of good hay, or green corn stalks, OF
a few quarts of meal or bran, made thin
with water. 1t Is quite important thai
the flow of milk be maintained because
if q COW be allowed to shrink In the guam
tity of milk, it is usually quite difficult
even by extra feed, to bring it up again
Sometimes lt'can be done without dlfheul
ty. But in most cases it is impractieable
WheneYerit is known that a COW hrinks
in her milk after getting with calf, take
means to prevent it each year until about
three months after the time of turning
COWS to grass. The aim should be tx
have such COWS come in just IN time to re
cover From the facilitating effects of par
t~urition By the time grass is large enough
for grazing. Then her milk will be haC
at a season of the year when COWS arr
usually most proitable.. But if they ar
allowed to breed early In the season, the,
are frequently very improbable COWS; anC
improper management renders them still
more SO.
Cows well fed and properly MIXED, can
not be expected to yield a large supply
unless they have an abundance Of gooC
water several times a day. Once or tWicl
is not sufficient. In hot weather the,
need it three times daily. They relish ].
pailful of good water as we do a cooling
draught from the "old oakeD bucket, :
And they must have it or they will no
and cannot yield an abundant supply O
milk. Large COWS that have access t,
ApareWatarlof4an drink-from-t~anty Il
thirty gallons daily, during the hot wealth
er, and this water assists greatly in keep
ing up the flow of milk. Withhold {
part of it and the supply diminishes. Al
soon as COWS have filed themselves with
grass they often desire to drink. They
seldom take much water into an empty
stomach. Consequently if they are re-
quired to drink at pool of standing, dirty
water, they viii drink no more than is
absolutely necessary to sustain life. SucI
water is not refreshing to COWS, or any
other of the animal kind ; and no ont
need expect that mich COW will keep NJ
the quantity of milk; so1ong as they are
required to use such IN uRWholesomt
article of diet.