No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 851 



QUESTION: lu the di-j i)rodiicts, what have you fonnd to be the 

 most successful ration, and in what proportion do yon give them? 



MR. DETRICn: We try to mix a ration to suit the cow's lactation. 

 We give a coav all she will digest, and of this the manure is the best 

 test. If the manure is riglit, the cattle and milk are right. We 

 give a quarter of a pound of salt a day and we use table salt; thoy 

 take this in preference to the coarse. Dairy animals are creatures 

 of habit to a large extent. We know just when they are going to 

 lie down and when they get up. 



The PRESIDENT: In making this difference in ration for the 

 heavy or light milker, do you feed more grain? 



MR. DETRICH: We make the mixture to suit the herd. We use 

 the cotton seed meal, and always give more when the cow is fresh. 

 This, with linseed and gluten, we use for animals in full lactation. 

 We regulate the amount of cotton seed largely by the manure. 



The PRESIDENT: What do you use for the basis of your cut feed? 



MR. DETRICH: We always use some cotton seod and some gluten 

 and bran. 



QUESTION: Do you depend upon the mixture, or add water? 



MR. DETRICH: In mixing the feed the ensilage goes to the bot- 

 tom. We splnkle the water over the top and give that one mixing 

 before putting in the by-products. 



MR. JONES: What is the proportion of ensilage and hay? 



MR. DETRICH: We feed about 35 pounds of ensilage a day and 

 we like to feed a cow about 5 pounds of hay a day. It is surprising 

 how much more milk we get when we milk three times a day. All. 

 the energies of the cow are directed to that udder, and as long as she 

 does not have pain she will secrete the milk. Thirty days before 

 the cow is fresh and thirty days afterward will tell what the cow 

 will do in the year. 



PROF. WATSON: Mi. Detrich says that 30 days before and 30 days 

 after the cow is fresh will tell what she will do. I would like to 

 ask whether he does not think there are other conditions affecting 

 her, entirely independent of proper feeding and proper care? 



MR. DETRICH: Yes, the individuality of the animal enters into 

 the consideration. 



PROF. WATSON: I believe wo take the best care of the animals, 

 but sometimes they will do better than others. They will start in bet- 

 ter. I am unable to offer any explanation why that is so, but there 



