OCR Text |
Show PERIOD OF LACTATION. It Has an Important Bearing on the Value of the Cow. Tho period of lactation, or tho length of time a cow will milk. Is an important point, nnd ono thnt docs not seem thoroughly appreciated. Tho "escutcheon," or "milk mirror," Is u fair guide to what may bo expected from a cow on this score, but weekly records of tho milk aro moi'o reliable, and If theso records nro compared with tho escutcheon and genernl appearance, ap-pearance, much valuable Information will bo learned. The heaviest milkers aro not nlways tho best cows, as many an nnlmnl giving a comparatively small quantity quan-tity will contlnuo to milk almost up to hor next calving, yielding In tho long run moro milk, nnd being, therefore, there-fore, tho moro profltablo cow for tho dairy. As a rule, tho smaller tho ylold, tho rlchor Is tho quality of tho milk, nnd similarly tho smaller breeds of cattlo gonernlly glvo tho best milk. Tho richness of milk Is duo to tho properties proper-ties of tho fat globules. Milk containing con-taining largo and rogular sized fat globules yields up all tho butter fat In tho churn, and all conditions being equal, makes bettor butter, both In flavor, color and quality, than that containing small and Irregular sized fat globules. Tho trado or business of tho farm should thoroforo determlno tho breed of tho cow to bo used. If milk Is required, re-quired, tho larger breeds of cattlo should bo kept; If buttor, tho smnll-er smnll-er ones. |