REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURIST 267 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



Guernsey grades — 



Two year olds 1 



Calves 3 



On the arrival of the imported stock, several grade dairy cows were sold to make 

 room for the new animals. Such aged cows and young cattle were retained as were 

 fairly good representatives of grades of the breeds, Shorthorn, Ayrshire and Guern- 

 sey. 



FEED OF THE DAIRY CATTLE. 



The roughage ration fed during the year of 1901 was practically the same as that 

 fed in 1900, namely, 35 lbs. ensilage, 20 lbs. mangels, 5 lbs. clover hay, and a little 

 chaff. This ration was varied to suit the size or capacity of the cow. The meal ration 

 consisted of different mixtures at different times. Bran, oat chop, barley meal, and 

 pea meal made up a considerable portion of the grain ration, but gluten entered very 

 extensively into the concentrate ration during the winter months. 



GLUTEN MEAL. 



This feed is proving of great value as a milk producer. It appears to be suited 

 for winter dairying, as it forms a good supplementary ration for mangels or corn ensil- 

 age. It is open at present to the objection that it is not constant in composition. It is 

 apparently difficult to get two samples even from the same factory alike in protein or 

 fat content, while feeds under the same name from different factories are quite differ- 

 ent in appearance and vary in protein and fat content by as much as 20 per cent. This 

 uncertainty of composition is very objectionable and must be guarded against most 

 carefully. 



MILK YIELD. 



The average milk yield of the herd has increased from 6,455 lbs. in 1900 to 6,760 

 lbs. in 1901. The butter yield per cow for 1900 was 289 -6 lbs., while in 1901 each cow 

 made 319 lbs., an increase of 29 "4 lbs. 



SUMMER FEEDING. 



The dairy cattle during the first part of the summer were, as usual, pastured on 

 the fifth year of the rotation ; that is, on land from which one year's hay had been 

 cut. In August and September they were allowed to have part of the clover meadow 

 aftermath of the fourth year of the rotation. In addition to this they were given 

 some clover ensilage, (see page 302). Only a small amount of meal (3 lbs. ground 

 oats per cow) was fed to such as were giving a large flow of milk and to heifers in the 

 first period of lactation. 



In estimating the cost of feeding, the following prices were charged for feed 

 stuffs, being the average local market rates for the same during 1901, save in the case 

 of ensilage and roots, which are charged at the usual values affixed in experimental 

 work : — 



Pasture $ 2.00 per cow per month. 



Bran 15.00 per ton. 



Oats, gluten meal, barley and pease 19.00 " 



Clover hay 6.00 " 



Chaff 4.00 " 



Roots and ensilage 2.00 " 



In estimating the value of the product, 19 cents per pound is allowed for the 

 butter and 15 cents per hundred pounds for the skim milk and butter-milk. The but- 

 ter is manufactured in the farm dairy and sells on the market at from 22 to 30 cents 

 per pound, an average of 25 cents during the year. This leaves 6 cents per pound for 

 cost of manufacture. 



The following tables give in detail the particulars concerning each cow and the 

 herd statement for the month : — 



