118 



THE VALUE OF FISH MEAL 



at other times it was very cold and stormy, and at such times the 

 milk of both lots visibly decreased. 



The meal of the ordinary-fed lot was always subjected to the 

 action of steam for two or three hours before being fed to the 

 animals, while the herring meal was not. Before use, the meal 

 of both lots was mixed with brewer's grains (locally called draff), 

 and given in a hot sloppy state to the animals. This and the 

 silage appeared to contain about as much water as the cows 

 required, as it was only on rare occasions that they would take 

 any when presented to them. 



The silage used was made from the second growth or after- 

 math of jaerennial and Italian ryegrass, and although well 

 preserved was very sour. The crop, when growing, contained 

 few seed stalks, and being mostly blades, it was very soft and 

 damp when put in. In the silo it was allowed to heat vip to 

 135° to 145° F., in the expectation it would come out sweet, as 

 some of it had done the year previous with less heating. This 

 year it was, however, sourer than usual, owdng, I presume, to the 

 damp nature of the material used. It was generally taken from 

 the silo at least a day previous to being used, during which time 

 it lost a large jDortion of its acidity, and whether or not better 

 relished by the cows I cannot say ; it was, however, more pleasant 

 to handle. As taken from the silo, each cow got daily from 30 

 to 35 lbs., some a little more, others a little less. The quantities 

 of draff, silage, and straw used is calculated from the total given 

 to the whole stock, and therefore represents the average of what 

 each was getting. 



The mashes were given morning, noon, and night, the silage 

 at the middle of the fore and afternoons, while the straw was 

 given between each, and again the last thing at night. 



The milk of both lots was several times tested by the cream 

 tube, but without any definite results. 



