| March 4. | Yield of milk per day. | March 31. | Yield of milk per day. | Gain in 4 weeks. | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cwt. | qr. | lbs. | quarts. | cwt. | qr. | lbs. | quarts. | lbs. | ||||||
| Weight | of | No. | 1. | 10 | 0 | 26 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .9 | 58 | |
| “ | “ | “ | 2. | 11 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 14 | .9 | 56 | |
| “ | “ | “ | 4. | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1⁄2 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 28 | |
| “ | “ | “ | 6. | 10 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 84 | ||
| “ | “ | “ | 7. | 11 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 84 | ||
| “ | “ | “ | 11. | 9 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 84 | ||
On referring to the previous weighing, there was little or no gain from Feb. 4th to March 4th, the cows being at that time in a somewhat more relaxed state. During March they wholly regained their consistency. The gain shown in the weighing, March 31, by the six cows, appears therefore unusually great. It should, however, be computed as made during the eight weeks from Feb. 4th to March 31, being with an average yield of nearly 12 quarts (11.66) per day each, at the rate of 81⁄6 lbs. each per week on the average.
No. 11, it will be observed, is stated as giving more milk on the 31st than on the 4th of March. It occasionally happens that cows drop their yield of milk for a day or two, and then regain it, especially when in use. The whole of these six cows were kept free from calf till February, when Nos. 2 and 4 were sent to bull. I had some hesitation in regard to No. 4, from her having suffered from pleuro. Her milk, tested by a lactometer, denoted a less than average proportion of cream; still, in quantity, and keeping up its yield for a length of time, being of more than ordinary capability; I decided to retain her.
Nos. 1 and 7, which are giving respectively 8 and 10 quarts per day, are in a state of fatness; they will probably be sold in June as prime fat, when their yield of milk will probably be 6 and 8 quarts per day each. They may be expected to fetch twenty pounds to twenty-three pounds. No. 6 is also in a state of forwardness. No. 11, which suffered considerably from pleuro, is in comparatively lower condition.
During the season from the close of October to the close of January, I avoid purchasing near-calving cows, which are then unusually dear, my replenishments being made with cows giving a low range of milk, and intended for fattening. I find them more profitable than those which are quite dry. The present season I had additional grounds for abstaining from buying high-priced cows, from the recent presence of pleuro.
On the 2d of March I had occasion to purchase a calving cow, which was reported to have calved on the 28th of February. Her weight on the 4th of March was 9 cwt. 1 qr. I supplied her with 35 lbs. of mangold, and hay ad libitum., of which she ate 22 lbs. per day. The greatest yield she attained was somewhat more than 13 quarts per day. On the 31st of March her weight was 9 cwt., being a loss of 28 lbs. in four weeks. Her yield of milk had diminished to 111⁄4 quarts per day. A week after this her milk, during six days, was kept apart, and averaged 10 quarts per day; being at first rather more, at the close rather less, than this. The cream produced from these 10 quarts was 9 pints, the butter 63 oz. The butter from each quart of cream was 14 oz. The proportion of butter to milk was 63 oz. from 60 quarts—rather more than 1 oz. per quart.
An equal quantity of milk from a cow (calved Oct. 8th) treated with steamed food, and set apart for comparison, gave less than 7 pints of cream, which produced 79 oz. of butter.
In quality and agreeableness the butter from steamed food and cake was decidedly superior to that from hay and mangold.
Mr. Stansfeld, of Chertsey, has supplied me with the following interesting particulars of two Alderney cows which were treated as follows:
From Dec. 1st to Jan 15th, with Swedes and meadow hay.