PERCENTAGE OF MILK FAT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1641, 7 January 1913, Page 8

PERCENTAGE OF MILK FAT.

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. A recent Missouri experiment station bulletin contains records of the station herd which show that on a restricted ration tho percentage of milk-fat may bo abnormally increased for soino time after calving if tho cow is in a fat condition, and that the porccntauo of milk-fat gradually increases with tho advance in lactation for the, cows moderate to thin in flesh. ■.. Data is also taken from tho advanced register of the Holstein-Friesian Cattle Association, and submitted as further proof that the percentago of fat may be. abnormally. ; hign when tho cow is in a fat condition at calving. One cow was entered in, the advanced register with an official test of 4.08 per'cent fat, although her average for the year - was 2.76 per cent. Similar restdts are recorded. for Avrshires and Jerseys. - , The following ■ conclusions are drawn: The percentage of fatMn milk can bo influenced to a marked extent for the first 20 or 30 days by the fatness of the animal at' parturition. This ' influence appears .to extend in some cases in a less degree for at least three months. Underreeding of the animal after, parturition seems to be a necessary condition to bring about this abnormal percentage of fat id the milk. Tests of dairy, cows made for short, intervals, in.the, beginning of the lactation period; cannot be depended upon to indicate the normal percentage of fatproduced by tho cows tested." , .