PERCENTAGE OF MILK FAT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 1736, 22 January 1913, Page 3

PERCENTAGE OF MILK FAT

AN INTERESTING 'EXPEBTM KNT. 'A recent Missouri experiment stuition bulletin contains records of the station herd which show that on a restricted; ration the percentage of milk fat may be abnormally increased for .some time after calving if the cow , is in a fat condition, and that the percentage of milk fat gradually in- ' creases with the advance in lactation for the cows moderate to thin in flesh, j Data is,also taken from the advanced register of tlio Holstein- ( Friesian Cattle Association, and -submitted as further proof that the percentage of fat may— be abnormally high when the cow is in a fat condi- , tion at calving. One cow was entered intho advanced register with an official test of 4.08 per cent, fat, al-. though her average for the' year was 2.7 per cent. Similar results : are j recorded for Ayrshire,? and Jerseys. I The following conclusions are drawn up: "The percentage of fat in milk can bo influenced to a marked extent I for the first 20. or 30 days by the fatj ness of the animal at oarj truit'.on This seems to he a necessary condition to bring ' about this abnormal percentage of fat in the milk. Tests of dairy cows made for short intervals in the beginning of the lacation period canj not be depended upon to indicate the , norma] percentage of fat produced : by the cows tested."