FEED FOR MILK!

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 106, 1 November 1933, Page 19

FEED FOR MILK!

BTJT NOT FOE FAT

NEGATIVE IRISH TESTS

FAT CONTENT' CONSTANT

You can feed a cow so as to obtain more milk, but not so as to raise the percentage of butter in the milk. Such, at any rate, is the import of tho following advice from London concerning experiments in Ireland: — As average milk yields have been so much increased of late years, largely as a result of more scientific methods of feeding, it is but natural that farmers should sock to discover some •means of feeding which will bring about a corresponding increase in' the fat percentage. But, except where cows were previously underfed on inadequate foods, the results have commonly been disappointing. FOUR YEARS' TRIAL. The question of the effect of food on the fat content of milk has received a good deal of attention all over the world, and has lately been under investigation in the Irish Tree State. As past results were held to have been conflicting, and because there were differences of opinion—though most authorities hold that "feeding cannot affect the richness of the milk in fat" — experiments were conducted over a period of four years, five cows being experimented with throughout, but different cows each year, and each cow fed and recorded separately. Various precautions were taken, to make the results dependable, and a good many feeding stuffs were used and comparisons made. With one exception there was a complete absence of any casual relation b»tweeu the feeding stuffs and the fat content of the milk produced. The exception was cod-liver oil, its effect being the opposite to what was desired. When given at the rate of 6oz a day, the oil had a depressing effect,- not only while it was being given but for several clays after. Out of 85 cases of oil feedings an apparently positive result appeared duly in eight, and in none of these did m(h'e than two out of/the five cows involved respond by an increased butter fat percentage; and "in no case was it, possible to get a repetition of the effect on the individual cow in which it occurred." NO EFFECT IN RICHNESS. These exceptions arc held to be merely fortuitous, being attributable to other causes than tho feeding. Olive oil, linseed oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, ground-nut oil, palm-nut oil, soyabean oil, and beef fat—all these had no quantitative effect on the richness of the milk in fat; and, palm-nut cake, linseed cake, and cotton cake were similarly withont result. Clearly a dairy cow needs but a small amount of oil in her ration to enable her to yield her maximum in milk and butter fat. Grazing at good pasture, or on ordinary indoor diet of hay, roots, cereals, and non-oily protein concentrate will suffice. There may sometimes be a lag- in the butter fat percentage' when, as a result of change of feeding—as from indoor conditions to spring pasture, or from autumn grass to indoor feeding— the milk yield is raised or diminished in quantity. For a short time the fat percentage may bo affected, but it is temporary. Further, neither the quantity of water taken nor the succulence of the food has any effect on the fat percentage. It was also concluded that "the plane of feeding," i.c,., generous rationing or otherwise,, is without effect on fat content, though th6re. may, of course, be a change in the quantity of milk given, which in turn means a greater or less total quantity of fat.