COMPOSITION OF GRASS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20548, 14 October 1936, Page 3

COMPOSITION OF GRASS

LESS BUTTERFAT IN MORNING Many dairy farmers are curious and there lias been much speculation among them in regard to the fact that the morning milk inevitably yields the smaller amount of butterfat. Why this is so has given rise to explanations, some frankly absurd, others more credible. It may come as a surprise to many that there is a difference between grass at night time and the same grass in the day-time, and it is this difference that causes the smaller amount of fat in the morning milk. During the day-time, owing to the action of sunlight, the blades of grass (for simple explanation) may be likened to miniature factories producing starches. During the nighttime, however, the blades of grass produce ferments or enzymes for the breaking down of the starches into food available to the plant. During the hours of darkness, therefore, the grass temporarily becomes less valuable food in the matter of butter-fat production and the morning milk consequently suffers.