DIVISION OF AXIMAL HUSBAyORY 345 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The cost of renewal of rubber lining's for teat cups and rubber tubing' aniountcil 

 to more than was expected. IIoweA'er, the nianufncturers of the Sharpies machine 

 have, during the year 1913, greatly improved the tinish and quality of the machine, 

 both a« to rubber parts and also as to the smoothness of the metal surfaces, which will 

 greatly overcome part of the difficulty in was^hing and thorough sterilizing. 



Further conclusions would be unwarranted owing to the short duration of the 

 experiment. However, it is hoped that after three or more years of careful study of 

 this and other mechanical milkers, a large amount of definite information of vajuable 

 character will be available for distribution. 



DAIRY HERD RECORDS. 



Eollowing are the dairy cow milk records for all cows which have finished a lac- 

 tation period during the fiscal year ending March 31, 1911. 



In the case of heifers with their first calves, charges for feed include the con- 

 sumption from a date two months previous to parturition, to the time of being dried 

 oil preparatory to second calving. In the case of heifers and cows 3 years old and 

 over, charges for feed include the period in which they were dry previous to the lac- 

 tation period reported. 



In estimating the cost of feeding the following values are used : — 



Pasture, per month $ 1 per cow. 



Meal mixture 25 per ton. 



Hay 7 



Straw 4 



Roots and ensilage 2 " 



Green teed 3 • " 



In calculating the value of the product, 30 cents per pound is allowed for the but- 

 ter, and 20 cents per liundred pounds for skim-milk. In reality a considerable quan- 

 tity of milk conforming to the " certified " standard has again been sold at $^3 

 per hundred pounds, while the price of butter ranged from 29 to 35 cents per pound. 

 The cream cheeses sold realized from $3.25 to $3.50 per hundre<l pounds of milk, and 

 the Coulommier cheeses sold realized from $2.20 to $3 per hundred pounds of milk. 

 The skim-milk, too, has acquired a value much exceeding the 20 cents per hundred 

 pounds. In many cases, in the feeding of either calves or young pigs, it has reached 

 a value of 75 cents and, in exceptional cases, nearly a dollar per hundred pounds. 



However, the figures chosen for calculation were regular market values, and form 

 a fair basis for comparison of the various individuals in the herd with each other, for 

 this and previous fiscal years, as well as with the individuals of other herds either on 

 branch Farms and Stations or on the farms of private individual farmers. 



In computing these returns it will be noted that the bedding and labour in con- 

 nection with caring for the cattle, and also the manufacture of the butter, cost of 

 handling milk, nuuiufacturing of cheese, and the like, have not been taken into 

 account. From careful calculation covering s'everal years it has bee«i found that the 

 value of the manure made and the value of the calves at birth, if proi)erly cared for, 

 more than counterbalance the above-mentioned items. 



All cows are reported upon that have finished a lactation i>eriod during the past 

 fiscal year. This list, however, does not include all cows that are at present in milk 

 on the Central Experimental Farm, for in a fe\v easels the cows have overrun the full 

 year milking, and many heifers have not completed their first lactation period. 



Owing to the loss of the splendid roughage together with the complete winters 

 supply of meals, all dairy cows on the Farm suffered severely from lack of a well-bal- 

 anced ration, until such time as sufficient materials could be jnirchased for the same. 



Ottawa. 



