226 ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW-YORK 



cent.) of albumen. It is rich in phosphates and also in oil. 

 This is of the unctuous class of vegetable oils, and it is to this 

 property that I call particular attention. Chemistry will assign 

 to this material, which has hitherto been comparatively neglected 

 for feeding, a first place for the purpose of which I am treating. 

 If objection should occur on account of its flavor, I have no diffi- 

 culty in stating that by the preparation I have described, I 

 have quite overcome this. I can easily persuade my cattle, (of 

 which 60 to 80 pass through my stalls in a year), without excep- 

 tion, to eat the requisite quantity. Nor is the flavor of the cake 

 in the least perceptible in the milk or butter. 



" During May my cows are turned out on a rich pasture near the 

 homestead ; tow^ards evening they are again housed for the night, 

 when they are supplied with a mess of the steamed mixture and 

 a little hay each morning and evening. During June, w'hen the 

 grasses are better grown, mown grass is given to them instead of 

 hay, and they are also allowed two feeds of steamed mixture. 

 This treatment is continued till October, w^hen they are again 

 wholly housed. 



'' The results which I now proceed to relate are derived from 

 observation made with the view of enabling me to understand 

 and regulate my own proceedings. 



GAIN OR LOSS OF CONDITION ASCERTAINED BY WEIGHING CATTLE 



PERIODICALLY. 



" For some years back I have regularly weighed my feeding stock 

 — a practice from w^hich I am enabled to ascertain their doings 

 with greater accuracy than I could previously. In January, 1854, 

 I commenced weighing my milch cows. It has been shown by 

 what I have premised that no accurate estimate can be formed of 

 the effect of the food on the production of milk, without ascer- 

 taining its effect on the condition of the cow^s. I have continued 

 this practice once a month almost without omission up to this 

 date. The weighings take place early in the morning, and before 

 the cows are supplied with food; the weights are registered, and 

 the length of time (15 months) during w^hich I have observed this 

 practice, enables me to speak with confidence of the results. 



"The cows in full milk yielding from 12 to 15 quarts each per 

 day, vary but little — ^some losing, others gaining, slightly; the 

 balance in the month's weighing of this class being rather to gain. 



