The Question Box. 363 



tein value. I would not feed cotton seed no matter how cheaply 

 I could buy it. I would much prefer linseed meal to it. 



Dr. Smead. — Put in a word for oats and peas. 



A Farmer. — How much shall we feed of them? 



Mr. Cook. — I don't know. It will depend on the cow. No two 

 would require the same quantity. Experiment with the individual 

 cow, and feed so as to have her respond. Palatability of the food 

 should also be considered. 



Which is the best grain ration for a cow that is a good milicer, equal 

 parts of oats and wheat bran (by measure) or corn, oats and bran, with 

 mixed hay, corn stallis and bean pods for roughage? 



Mr. Cook. — Wheat bran and oats. Wheat middlings are a good 

 food, but I prefer the bran. The cow needs mineral matter, which 

 the bran will furnish. There is a little less digestible protein in the 

 bran than in the middlings; still, all things considered, I prefer 

 the bran. There would not be much difference in the analysis of 

 the two rations, however. 



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To Mr. Converse. — What do you think of the Ayrshire cattle for this 

 country? 



Answer. — I do not care to say much about the Ayrshire, be- 

 cause I am interested in them. But I will say that, if one wants 

 a hustler and has rough, hilly pastures, where a cow must work 

 to get her living, there is none better. They give a good flow of 

 good milk, being about midway between the Holstein and Jersey. 

 They are also strong, healthy and hardy. 



What do you think of the old milking strain of Shorthorns? 



Answer. — It was a great mistake when they were allowed to go 

 out. It was a most excellent dairy breed. When the breeders 

 abandoned milk for beef in the Shorthorns they practically ruined 

 the breed for dairy purposes. 



Are the Devon cattle a profitable breed for the average farmer? 



Answer. — I found at several fairs last fall that some breeders 

 were trying to make a dairy cow out of the Devon, but it is more 



