358 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 

 EXPERIMENTS WITH COWS. 



The experiment with the dairy herd during the past year was along" the same lines 

 as that of 1900, namely, to determine whether a fairly good dairy herd, well fed and 

 eared for, would leave a credit balance after paying for feed consumed at current 

 prices. The experiment was begun on December 2, 1900, and continued to December 

 1, 1901. 



The price of feed this year was about the same as last year, and the prices of the 

 products were higher than last year. Wheat bran was charged at $19.35 per ton, corn 

 at $22.50 per ton, oats at $22.50 per ton, and pea meal, $27 per ton, making an average 

 price of mixed meal ration, as per proportion fed to cows, of 1J cents per pound. Roots 

 were valued at 5 cents per bushel, ensilage $2 per ton, and hay at $8 per ton. 



The rations fed the cows in full milk in winter was, ensilage or roots, 50 pounds; 

 meal, 10£ pounds, and hay, 10 pounds, making an average cost of 19| cents per cow 

 per day. 



When not milking in winter they were charged $3 per month. 



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

 sume and produce. 



Thirteen were in full milk when the test began, the remainder coming fresh at 

 various times till spring. They were kept in the stable from November 1, 1900, to 

 June 1, 1901, except on occasional fine days when they were allowed out in the yard. 



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

 The temperature of the stable was kept at 60° Fahrenheit, as nearly as possible all the 

 time. 



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

 all the time. 



They were put to pasture early in June, and until toward the end of August were 

 left out the greater part of the time, night and day. During September and October 

 they were kept in the stable the greater part of the time. 



With the exception of the first two weeks after being turned out, they were fed 

 entirely in the stable, on cut green feed, clover and pease, oats and vetches grown to- 

 gether for thai purpose, and sown at intervals of from one week to ten days apart. 

 Owing to the extremely dry weather the crop was only fair, and at least 15 acres of 

 green feed were consumed by the herd during the summer. 



While milking in summer they were charged $2.50 per month, and $1.50 per month 

 when dry. 



The milk of each cow was weighed at milking, twice each day, and a careful record 

 kept of the number of pounds given. 



The percentage of fat in the milk of each cow was determined by the Babcock milk 

 tester, and the fat credited to the cows on the basis that 85 pounds fat produces 100 

 pounds marketable butter. 



The milk 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 23 cents per pound, less 4 cents per pound for manufacturing butter and 

 hauling milk. 



- The skim milk was fed to calves and pigs, and credited to the cows at the rate of 

 15 cents per 100 pounds. 



The following table will show the results obtained during the year : — 



