Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-10
Aoritnltntal.
MAINTAINING A FULL FLOW OF MILK.

MAINTAINING
During the months Of July and August
in our latitude, the full flow of milk is fire.
quently checked. In most instances grass
fails. Sometimes, however, farmers have
kept too many animals on a given surface
and many cows have kept the grass from
growing, and the usual flow of milk has di-
minished. Dairymen slide into this prac-
tice of over-stocking their pastures at a
season of the year when grass grows freel y.
A COW consumes certain amount of feed
to sustain and to repair the waste Of her
body. If she can have more than enough
for this purpose the surplus will be conver-
ted into milk Therefore, if feed is short,
the flow of milk must inevitably diminish
Breeding is another cause of diminution in
the quantity of milk Some COWS, even
when supplied with all the good grass they
will consume, will fall off in milk within a
few weeks after being got with calf and
there is sometimes so much shrinkagc i'll
the amount Of milk, that a COW might be
dried off in a short time. Another common
cause of failure in the flow of milk is, a
want Of an abundant 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, 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 animal life. By
over-stocking pasture, most of the grass
- n ba al
out improving their condition, while a small
er number would thrive well, and at the
same time, give good supply of milk
Therefore, in order to obtain the greatest
amount of butter or cheese from a given
amount of pasture, the correct way to do it
is to keep few COWS and feed we'll When
grass fails, they should have at least one
feeding daily Of good hay, or green corn
stalks, or few quarts Of meal or bran,
made thin with water 1t is quite import
ant that the flow of milk be maintained ;
because, if COW be allowed 10 shrink in
the quantity of milk, it is usually quite
difficult, even by extra feeding, to bring it
up again. Sometimes it can be done with
out difficulty. But in most cases it is i'm
practicable.
Whenever it is known that cow shrinks
III 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 to have such
cows come III Just III time to recover from
the deblitating effects of parturition by the
time grass is large enough for grazing
Then her milk will be had at a season OF
the year when cows are usually most prof
liable. But if they are allowed to breed
earl in the season.. they are frequently We
ry Improbable cows and improper man
agcmcnt renders them still more so.
Cows well fed and properly milkcd, can
not be expected to yield large supply,
unless they have an abundance Of good
water several times a day. Once or twice
is not sufficient. In hot weather they need
it three times daily. They relish a pailful
Of good water as we do a cooling draught
from the "old oakcn bucket" And they
must have it or they will not and can not
yield an abundant supply Of milk. Large
cows that have access to pure water often
drink from twenty to thirty gallons daily
during the hot weather, and this water as
sists greatly in keeping up the flow Of milk
Withhold a part of it and the supply dimin.
ishcS As soon as COWS have filed them
selves with grass they often desire to drink
They seldom take much water into an emp
ty stomach. Consequently if they are re,
quired to drink at pool of standing, dirty
water, perhaps defiled by dung, they will
drink no more than is absolutely necessary
TO sustain life Such water is not refresh
ing to COWS, or any other animals and nc
one need expect that milch cows will keel
up the quantity Of milk, so long as they
are required to use such an unwholesome
drink.