53 



2.2 lbs. cotton seed meal. 

 2.2 lbs. wheat bran. 



Total 23.7 lbs. 



Account was kept of the manure produced during 

 certain periods, and it was found that this was pro- 

 duced at the rate of 1,749 pounds per month, or 3 1-2 

 tons per cow during a stabling period of four months. 



Almost exactly half of the manure was left in the 

 barn during the stabling period of 16 hours and an al- 

 most exactly equal amount was deposited during the 

 8 hours while the cows were in the lots. 



The General Plan of the Experiments. 



The chief aim of the experimental feeding of dairy 

 cows as conducted by the Agricultural Department of 

 this Station during the past four years has been to 

 ascertain the means by which the dairymen might re- 

 duce his expenditures for purchased food. 



The chief profits in live stock consist in using them 

 as the means of improving the soil and of advantageous- 

 ly marketing the crops grown on the farm. Hence the 

 larger the proportion of farm-grown food and the 

 smaller the proportion of purchased material in the 

 ration of an animal the greater the profit. 



The proximity of cotton seed oil mills, the relative 

 cheapness of -cotton seed meal and hulls, and the com- 

 venience with which these by-products can be fed, have 

 had the effect of making many southern farmers too de- 

 pendent upon purchased foods. In Bulletin No. 114, 

 issued in 1901 by this department, it was shown that 

 at prices then prevailing a home-grown ration of cot- 

 ton seed meal and sorghem hay afforded less butter, but 

 at a lower cost per pound, than a diet of cotton seed 

 meal and hulls. 



