THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON MILK PRODUC- 

 TION OF CHANGES IN THE RATION * 



W. p. WHEELER. 



INTRODUCTOKY ^^OTE BY THE DIRECTOE. 



The data discussed in this bulletin were mostly secured under 

 a former administration. They are not the result of feeding 

 experiments logically planned for the study of rations, but were 

 incidental to the extensive breed tests that were carried on for 

 several years, and for this reason they cannot be made the basis 

 of so extensive or so safe conclusions as to feeding questions 

 as otherwise might be the case. 



The tables which Mr. Wheeler presents from nearly one thou- 

 sand feeding periods with different animals may seem to be 

 duplications in some cases, as for instance V, IX. X of the tables 

 as compared with XXVI, XXV and XXVII. It is to be noticed 

 that these tables differ as to the number of periods included, 

 which is due to the fact that in one set the selection of data was 

 made with reference to the effect of varying the quantity of 

 nutrients and in the other set with reference to the influence of 

 varying the protein. It is gratifying to note, however, that 

 different groups of periods, involving practically similar condi- 

 tions, indicate essentially similar conclusions. 



Those who may study this bulletin should keep clearly in 

 mind that only the immediate and not the permanent effect of 

 rations is considered. Moreover, there should be a proper reser- 

 vation of judgment concerning data logically so imperfect. 

 Nevertheless, in some particulars these records mean much more 

 in a practical way than some offered to the public which involve 

 the use of very few animals during only two or three feeding 



*A reprint of Bulletin No. 210. 



