Untitled

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8529, 1 April 1891, Page 6

There is a general impression that warm water, given instead of cold to cows, increases the flow of milk ; at least this impression prevails among town dairymen, many of whom follow the practise. The impression is confirmed by the alleged result of a trial carried out in France. Two cows of about equal milking capacity were fed alike, except that one had cold water and the other water heated up to 113degs Fahr. The result is reported to be that the latter gave one-third more milk than the former. Very different results were given in some elaborate experiments of the same character carried out during two winters at the Wisconsin (U.S.A.) Experimental Station. Two lots of cows, six in each, had the same weight of corn, and all the maize-straw chaff they liked to eat, one lot getting water at 32degs and the other at SOdegs. In 1889 the only difference in the average yield of milk was a very minute fraction over lib per day per cow in favour of the cows which had warm water, or 6 23 per cent, of the general average daily yield of 16-061b. In 1890 the difference was still less, as it was under a quarter of a pound per cow per day it favour of the lot winch had warm water. It was found, moreover, that these cow drank 73 261b each daily in 18.89, and 85 "41b in 1890, while the cows drinking cold water drank 63'071b and 77"221b. The former lot also consumed nearly Jib each per day more of the chopped maize straw. There is, not much here in favour of using warm water ; but the experiment should be repeated, as the results are nob in accordance with common experience.