Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-16
DAIRY MATTERS.
DoEs FEED AFFECT THE RICHNESS OF
MILK!

The teachings Of some OF our dairy
authorities have tended TO cause con-
fusion of ideas on this subject. We have
seen nothing palmer or more sensible In
regard to il than the following, by the
editor of the Michigan Farmer, in a
paper read before the recent meeting OF
the Michigan State Association.
1.-The trouble in answering this ques-
ton is that to be Of any value, the de-
cision must be based upon facts, and one
part OF 1t al least has to do with inherited
characteristics OF animal life, differ
entiated bv the methods under which
they have been grown To maturity. SO
far as the relative constituents OF feed
are concerned there are well-known facts
upon which to base conclusions, but
the difficulty is that the internal organs
of cow form natural laboratory the
complexity of which renders its opera
tions verv difficult 10 follow. Each ami
NAL has a characteristic peculiar To IT
self. has its likes and dislikes, which
exert a very important influence in de-
termining the effects Of food upon its
system.
ut is well-nigh universally admitted
that food affects the color and flavor OF
butter, but "a 10 whether the richness of
milk l. thus affected is a yexed question.
This difference of opinion probably
arises from the fact that cows are not
alike. as has been explained. The feed
ing Of rich food to one COW may have but
little effect upon the richness OF her
milk, and her owner will conclude that
il does not affect the milk OF other cows.
At the worlds fair, however, the cows
In the hands Of the best feeder, the man
who compounded his rations on those
lines which long experience had shown
him were the ones that would not only
produce large quantities OF milk, but
milk that was rich in butter fats, were
the cows that stood at the head when
the tests were finished.
1.-The breed may have had something
to do with the success, but the excellent
Judgment OF the feeder greatly helped.
The only way To fairly Judge between
breeds would be TO feed All precisely
alike. IL is my belief that fced does
y feet the richness of milk 10 a certain
limit. and this can be extended by breed
ing and by the management OF the amt
NAL while IL Is youDg-that Is, by train
ing. We know that by breeding aud
selection We can secure animals that will
largely excel in certain directions other
like animals left In their natural condi-
ton. This is seen in the quicker growth
OF improved breeds of beef cattle. They
are bred to use the largest possible pro-
portion of their food To grow fat, bone
Al In Ia
tion has been greatly increased. Even
during nv remembrance the time for
growing beef animal has been cut
down from three to two years, and the
same changes have taken place in sheep
and its fleece aud In swine.
ut is not all feed nor all breed, but q
iudicious combination OF both. That the
dairy COW has been improved 10 as great
An extent a has the beef animal, no one
who takes the pains 10 investigate can
doubt. Her breeding has been along the
lines of greater production of milk. ana
OF richer quality. The well bred dairy
COW will. after providing for her own
sustenance, use the largest possible pro-
portion OF her food in adding 10 the
quantity or quality of her milk. SO far
A. practical dairying is concerned, the
cow that does not respond by increased
production TO the feed and care given her
bv her owner Is a scrub. IL you have n
cow OF this description, it Is safe 10 say
that YOU will not agree with me in the
belief that food affects the richness of
milk; but the dairyman who by breeding
and selection has secured herd such as
every dairyman wants, will, | think, be
A strong advocate on the side Of the
question that | have taken. Herald
aud Record.