302 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



EXFERLAJENTS WITH COWS. 



64 VICTORIA, A. 1901 



The experiment with the dairy herd during the past year was identical with that 

 of 1899, namely, to determine whether a fairly good dairy herd, well fed and cared for, 

 would leave a credit balance, after paying for feed consumed at current prices. The 

 experiment was begun on November 28, 1899, and continued until November 27, 1900. 



The prices for feed this year were, on the whole, somewhat lower, while the > ices 

 of products was slightly higher than last year. Wheat and bran, $17.50 per ton ; oats 

 and corn (including grinding), each $22 per ton ; peameal, $29 per ton, making an 

 average price of meal ration, in the proportions fed to cows, of 1 cent per pound. 

 Roots, 5 cents per bushel ; ensilage $2 per ton ; hay, $7 per ton, and straw, $3 per ton. 

 The average price of butter for the twelve months was 21 cents per pound, being an 

 advance of 1 cent per pound on last year's price. 



'The dailj^ rations for cows in full milk in winter was : — Ensilage or roots, 30 

 poinids, 3 cents ; hay and straw, 20 pounds, 5 cents ; bran and meal, pounds, 9 cents, 

 making a total cost of 17 cents per cow per day. When not milking in winter they 

 were charged $2 per month. 



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

 sume and produce. 



Twelve were in full milk when the experiment began, the remainder coming in 

 fresh at various times until spring. They were kept in the stable from November 1, 

 1890, until June 1, 1900, excei^t on occasional fine days, when they were allowed out in 

 the yard. 



They were fed twice each day only, and had water before them all the time. The 

 temperature of the stable was kept as near 60° Fahrenheit as possible all the time, and 

 the temperature of the water, which was run into the cows pail direct from the spring, 

 was 35" Fahrenheit, being 4° colder than when run into a tank and left there 12 hours, 

 as was formerly done. No bad effect was perceptible from the drinking of colder 

 water, although no experiment was carried on to determine that point. 



They were fed, cared for, and millied as regularly as possible by the same persons 

 all the time. 



They were put to pasture on -Tane 1, and from that date until July 31 were out 

 night and day. During August they were out at night and in during the day. During 

 September and October they wore in the stable at night and in the pasture during the 

 day time. 



After June 15, the pasture was practically done, and the cows were fed on green 

 clover in the stable until July 15, after which date they were fed on a mixture of oats, 

 pease and vetches sown for that purpose, at intervals of one week apart. The green 

 feed fed to 30 cows for soiling season of five months, was grown on an area of land 

 not exceeding ten acres. 



While milking they were charged $1.50 per month, and while dry they were turned 

 back in the bush pasture and charged $1 per month. 



The milk of each cow was weighed at milking twice ea^-'h day, and a careful record 

 kept of the number of pounds given. 



A test of each cow's milk was made from time to time by means of the Babcock 

 milk tester. The weight of butter was determined on the basis that 81 pounds butter 

 fat produces 100 pounds of marketable butter. 



The miUi was sent to the Nappan dairy station, and the cows were credited with 

 the butter produced, at the prices paid to all patrons of that station, which averaged 

 for the year 21 cents per pound, less 4 cents per pound for manufacturing the butter 

 and hauling the milk. 



The skim milk was fed to calves and p'igs, and credited to the cows at the rate of 

 15 cents per 100 pounds. 



