120 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



1898. They were all grade shorthorns although No. 8G showed that there was 6ome 

 Jersey blood in her ancestry. Neither the age nor the breeding of the cows can be given 

 as they had been purchased a year previous in various parts of the State. 



The plan of the experiment was to feed one lot of cows pulp for six weeks then follow 

 with six weeks in which the same ration of hay and grain should be given, but without 

 pulp. Another lot was to be fed the dry feed for six weeks, then have the pulp for the 

 following six weeks. 



The cows were kept in Bidwell stalls nights and stormy days but let out to water 

 and exercise except when the weather was unpleasant. The feed was weighed to each 

 animal daily. The milk as weighed as milked and tested from a composite sample 

 weekly, each cow's milk being treated separately. 



The next table gives the dates of the birth of the last calf preceding the beginning of 

 the experiment, and where possible the yields of milk and fat for the previous period of 

 lactation. The cows in this herd are designated by number, not by name. , 



List of cows with dates of birth of last calf and yields in last period of lactation. 



Cow 



No. 



92 

 138 



86 



97 

 105 

 109 



98 

 106 



Last calf born- 



Xoveraber 23, 1898. 

 December 7, 1898... 

 November 11, 1898 . 

 October 26, 1898 . . . 

 November 9, 1898 . . 

 October 23, 1898.... 

 November 28, 1898 . 

 December 8, 1898... 



Preceding period of 

 lactation. 



Milk- 

 pounds. 



6,009.8 



5,687.7 

 6,745.7 

 6,931.6 

 5,820.3 

 8.135 3 

 8,208.9 



Fat- 

 pounds. 



234. r.S 



244.30 

 249.27 

 269.10 

 216.05 

 327.69 

 305.21 



The experiment began December 28. Preliminary feeding period to January 4. The 

 first feeding period from January 4 to February 8. Intervening week February 8 to 

 February 15. Second feeding period from February 15 to March 22 inclusive. 



The following table gives the numbers of the cows selected for each group and their 

 weights at the beginning of the test, December 28, February 8 and March 22: 



Weights of cows. 



Group I. 



Pulp, first period. 



Number. 



Dec. 28— 

 pounds. 



92 



138 



86 



'■<! 



Totals . 



1,120 



1,269 



803 



915 



4,107 



Feb. 8— 

 pounds. 



1,147 



1,359 



833 



975 



4,314 



Mar. 22— 

 pounds. 



1,120 



1,379 



828 



970 



4,297 



Number. 



Group II. 



105 



109 



98 



106 



Totals 



Pulp, second period. 



Dec. 28— 

 pounds. 



1,236 

 853 



1,010 

 958 



4,057 



Feb. 8— 

 pounds. 



1,132 

 870 

 981 

 993 



3,976 



Mar. 22- 

 pounds. 



1,215 

 906 

 960 



1,020 



4,106 



These records show that Group I gained, when eating pulp, 207 pounds and lost in 

 the second period after the pulp was withheld, 17 pounds. Group II also gained in 

 weight when eating pulp during the second period of the test, the gain being 130 pound3 

 and lost in the first period when no pulp was given 81 pounds. The gross advantage in 

 weight therefore due to the pulp was 435 pounds. 



In the next tables are given the amounts of the different kinds of feed consumed by 

 the several cows. Group I had pulp for the five weeks, from January 4 to February 8, 

 and no pulp from February 15 to March 22. On the other hand, Group II had pulp the 



