REPORT OF MR. R. ROBERTSON 287 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



CATTLE. 



The stock of cattle on the farm at present consists of 71 head, as follows : — 



Guernseys 5 



Ayrshires 14 



Holsteins Y 



Grade females 27 



Steers, 1 year 10 



Steer calves 8 



EXPERIMENTS WITH DAIRY COWS. 



This experiment was carried on as in former years, to further determine the pro- 

 fit or loss of a fairly good dairy herd, well fed and .cared for, with the feeds consumed 

 charged at current market princes, and receiving credit for milk produced, the value of 

 which being established by the price received at the creamery during the season. 



The different feeds were charged at the following prices : — Hay, $8 per ton (average 

 price for last few years) ; roots, $2 per ton; ensilage, $2 per ton; wheat bran, $19.50 

 per ton; gluten meal, $27 per ton; oil cake, $34 per ton; mixed grain (oats, pease 

 and barley), $24 per ton; making an average price of mixed meal ration, as per propor- 

 tion fed to cows, of lie. per lb. Th« ration fed to cows in full milk was : ensilage or 

 roots, 50 lbs.; meal, 9 lbs.; hay, 12 lbs.; making a cost of 20|c. per cow per day. 



In summer months, while milking they were charged $2.50 per month for sum- 

 mer feed as hereinafter explained, and when dry $1 per month. 



Different quantities were fed to different cows, according to their capacity to 

 consume or produce, or period of lactation, and charged accordingly. 



When dry in winter they were charged $1 per month. From early fall until June 

 they were kept in the stable, except on occasional fine days, when they were allowed 

 out in the yard. 



Erom June 1 to October, they were put out in the field the greater part of the 

 time, night and day, but kept in during cold or wet weather. 



They were fed, watered and . milked each day, at as nearly regular int'3rval,3 as 

 possible. 



The summer feed was practically all summer soiling crop, rye, clover or oats, 

 pease and vetches groAvn together and sown at different times. After July 15 they 

 were fed some hay, and after August 15 some green corn. 



The milk of each cow was weighed at milking twice each day, and a careful re- 

 cord kept of the number of pounds given. The percentage of fat in the milk of each 

 cow was determined by the Babcock milk tester, at the average of various tests taken 

 throughout the year, and the fat, credited to the cow, on the basis that 85 pounds of 

 fat produces 100 pounds of marketable butter. 



The milk was sent to the Nappan dairy station until April 30, and the cows were 

 credited with the butter produced at the prices paid to all patrons of that station, 

 which averaged for the winter months 19 cents per lb. after deducting 4 cents per lb. 

 for manufacturing and haiding milk. After this date the milk was separated at the 

 stable, and the cream sent for a short time to the Maritime Dairy Co., Sussex, N.B., 

 and the price credited, 22J cents par lb., being the average price received by this 

 creamery for the summer months, after deducting li- cents i)er lb., being the price 

 charged for manufacturing. 



The skim milk was credited to the cows at the rate of 15 cents per hundred 

 pounds. 



Twenty-two cows were in milk during the past season. 



