DJrJSJO^ UF AMMAL UlUBAXDRY 365 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



EXPERIMENTAL STATION, KENTVILLE, N.S. 

 REPOKT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT, W. S. BLAIR. 



DAIRY CATTLE. 



During the summer of 1913, the onlj' head of dairy cattle at this Station was one 

 grade cow. Durinjr tlie month of October, 1913, an importation was made from 

 Ontario of eleven Shorthorn cows and one Sliorthorn bull. These cows are all of 

 Scotch foundation blood and were picked out as representing a good type of farmers' 

 Shorthorn, showing indications of fair milk production over and above the recjuirc- 

 monts of their calves. These are not dairy Shorthorns as to breeding, but will be 

 treated in the herd as pure-bred farmers' cows, from the dairy standpoint. A Short- 

 horn bull from good milking strain was purchased to head this herd, and the purpose 

 of the herd is the development of a thick, strong beef type of Shorthorn which will give 

 at least a reasonable flow of milk- — sufficient to warrant profitable milking of such. 



From the time when the Shorthorn cows arrived at this Farm until the end of 

 the fiscal year, five head freshened, giving four heifer calves and one bull calf. All 

 these cows are milking fairly well, and their calves are most promising. The practice 

 of taking the calf from the cow on the third day has been followed. Two of the cows, 

 apparently used to suckling their calves, objected most strenuously, but these have 

 gradually become more accustomed to hand-milking, and in another year give promise 

 of a good milk record. As no cow has finished a lactation period, reports of production 

 from this herd will not be given initil the annual report for the fiscal year 1914-15. 



FEEDING THE DAIRY COW. 



The cows were fed on a meal ration of 1 pound to each 3 pounds of milk produced. 

 The meal ration consisted of 400 pounds bran, 100 pounds cottonseed meal, 200 pounds 

 crushed oats, 100 pounds linseed meal, and 100 pounds conimeal, mixed together. The 

 succulent feed consisted of 40 pounds ensilage or turnips, and 12 pounds liay each per 

 day. 



They were given a light feed of hay early in the morning, followed by the ensilage 

 or roots, on which half the daily meal ration was scattered; this was followed by 

 another light feed of hay. This was all eaten by ten o'clock and the next feed was 

 given about three o'clock. The afternoon feed consisted of, first, ensilage or roots, and 

 the other half of the daily meal ration and half the daily hay ration to finisjh up. 

 Drinking bowls were alongside the cows so that they could get water when needed 



