60 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



REFUSE APPLES AS FEED FOR JllLCH C»\VS. 



Every season tlie disposition to be made of low grade apples is a matter of moM 

 or less moment to many farmei's. To be in a position to give some exact data as ti 

 their value as food for at lea^t some classes of live stock, a few experiments in feeding 

 them were conducted here in the autumn. Among others was one to study their effect 

 upon milk secretion and upon the health of dairy cattle. 



Four grade cows about six months in milk were selected- They were fed on the 

 usual ration of ensilage, pulped roots and hay for two weeks, then put on a ration of 

 meal, hay, ensilage and roots .and apples. 



Below are submitted a few particulars. 



FIRST PERIOD. 



KG APPLES. 



Number of cows in experiment 4 



Average ration fed each cow during 2 weeks ("Ensilage and roots .... 50 lbs. 



previous to apple feeding experiment and Hay 4 " 



2 weeks after apple feeding experiment. [Meal 7i " 



f Ensilage and roots .... 2,800 " 



Feed consumed by group in average 2 weeks. .{Hay 224 " 



[Meal 420 " 



Value of feed in average 2 weeks $ 7.78 



Cost to feed 1 cow 1 day 13*9 cts. 



Milk yielded by group in average 2 weeks , 1,353 lbs. 



Daily average for cow during 2 weeks 24'2 " 



SECOND PERIOD. 



APPLES m RATION. 



Average ration for each cow during 2 weeks 

 on experiment 



Feed consumed by group in 2 weeks while ex- 

 periment lasted 



Apples 25 



Roots and ensilage .... 20 



Hay 4 



Meal 7i 



Apples 1,400 



Roots and ensilage,,.. 1,120 



Hay 



Meal 



Value of feed, other than apples, fed during 2 weeks $ 6 . 10 



Cost to feed one cow 1 day (apples not valued) 



Milk yielded by group in 2 weeks while eating apples 



Daily average for cow during 2 weeks 



Difference in millc yield in favour of apple ration, for 2 weeks 



Average weight of cows when going on apple feeding period 



Average weight of cows at end of apple feeding period 1,008 " 



Gain in weight on average 23 " 



Average weight at end of last 2 weeks 992 " 



Loss in average weight during 2 weeks 16 " 



It is only fair to credit the refuse apples as being worth the value of the food 

 saved in the 2 weeks. On such a basis, therefore, refuse apples may be valued at $2,40 

 per ton, or about 7 cents per bushel, when roots and ensilage are valued at $2 per 

 ton for cattle feed. 



