A friend went to a petting farm the other day and got to see the cow
being milked. Said cow had a calf more than a month ago and calf was fed
with a pail with mummy cow's milk. When her 4 year old asked, "Why isn't
the calf nursing?" the reply was that the cows nowadays are bred to
produce lots of milk and if the calf is allowed to drink from the cow
they drink too much and get diarrhea. Ditto for goats. There was also a
pen with two lambs who were being supplemented because the mum ewe
didn't have enough milk.

My background being anumal science, I found this kind of true, but not
really. Wouldn't the cow's system adjust to the demand, even if she is
bred for more milk than her foremothers (forecows?). I know calves who
are used to being fed twice daily will keep drinking when it's offered
in a pail or bottle, but wouldn't they adjsut their demands to what they
need, if they are allowed to stay with the mummy cow? Any dairy experts
out there?

Donna Hansen
Burnaby, British Columbia
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