36 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



DAIRY CATTLE FEEDING EXPERIMENTS. 



The investigational work along the lines of the greatest number of cattle which 

 may be profitably fed on a 200-acre farm is being continued, and with most interest- 

 ing results. 



A continuation and expansion of experimental feeding work, as reported in the 

 year 1913, has been conducted during the past year. A complete summary of this 

 investigational work to determine the feeding values of molasses and molasses meals 

 may be found in the detailed report of the Dominion Animal Husbandman. 



MILKING MACHINES. 



As previously reported, a Sharpies Mechanical Milker was installed on the 

 Central Experimental Farm in July, 1912. This machine has given fairly good 

 satisfaction. In order to get further data as to the value of milking machines, a 

 Burrell-Lawrence-Kennedy machine was installed in September, 1913. The pur- 

 pose of these milking machine tests was to compare each machine with the other 

 land also with good hand milking as to thoroughness, to detennine their effect upon 

 the cows, to examine into the purity of the milk drawn in this way, to compare the 

 machines with hand milking for cost and to get some information as to the dura- 

 bility of the machines. Unfortunately, both these machines were destroyed when 

 the bams were burned. However, it is proposed to continue these tests as soon as 

 the new buildings are completed. 



DAIRY cow RETURNS. 



It will ag'ain be noted that the quality of the dairy cattle on the Central Experi- 

 mental Farm has made a marked improvement. The following is a brief summary 

 showing the returns of some of the cows in the various herds, the profits being based 

 on the following valuations: Butter, 30 cents per pound; skim-milk, 20 cents per 

 hundred pounds ; pasture, $1 per head per month ; hay, $7 ; straw, $4 ; green feed, $3 ; 

 and meal, $25 per ton. 



In the above valuation, butter at 30 cents per pound is equivalent to milk at 

 only $1.65 per hundred pounds, yet, in reality, the manufacture and sale of cream 

 cheese, Coulommier cheese and certified milk, with a large part of the milk, has 

 netted $3 per hundred pounds. However, the above valuations are useful for the 

 comparison of these productions with the average herd throughout Canada. 



