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The Immediate Influence of Feeds Upon the Quantity and Quality of Cow's Milk

I. The Effect of Ground Flax^*

Division of Dairy Husbandry, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

It is a commonly accepted fact that feeds in general exert no specific effect upon the fat percentage in milk over a long period of time. It is, however, generally agreed that certain feeds will cause a temporary increase in fat percentage which will gradually return to normal even though such feed is continuously administered. Many also believe that certain feeds will stimulate milk production for a short period to a point that cannot be maintained by continuous feeding of such feeds. While these facts are generally known and substantiated by experimental evidence, a search of the literature failed to reveal any evidence as to how soon after the administration of a feed the stimulating effect occurred upon either the quantity or quality of the milk.

If the sudden introduction of a feed into the ration will cause an immediate increase in the fat percentage, or the amount of milk, or both, then it becomes possible to take advantage of this in getting more credit for a cow on semi official test¹ than she actually produced.

^* Published with the approval of the Director as paper no. 622, Journal Series, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

¹ The present system of semi-official testing consists of a one or two-day test each month by official testing supervisors. The fat percentage found on such days is applied to the monthly milk production for the monthly fat credit. The milk weights found by the official test supervisors serve as a check upon the weights reported by the breeder.