ON THE EFFECT OF A GRAIN RATION FOR 

 COWS AT PASTURE. 



It is generally recommended that cows at pasture in the summer 

 should have a supplementary grain ration, and a large number of 

 the more progressiv^e farmers pursue this practice with an evident 

 belief that it is profitable. In the absence of data as to the value 

 of this practice it was deemed worth while to conduct as carefully 

 as might be a somewhat extended experiment intended to afford, 

 if possible, some light on the point in question. To this end the 

 following trial was instituted : 



'C3 



The Cows. 



From the University herd there were selected six cows making 

 tu'o lots mated in pairs as nearlj^ alike as was possible in age, 

 breeding, time since calving, yield of milk, and time to next 

 calving, the details were as follows : 



Lot I. Fed no grain. 



No. I. Sadie, high grade Jersey, about six years old, dropped 

 last calf Jan. 21, 1889, bred May loth, 1889. 



No. 2. Glista, thoroughbred Holstein, two years old, dropped 

 last calf Jan. 3, 1889, bred July 17th, 1889. 



No. 3. Aggie, yi blood Holstein, six years old, dropped 

 last calf July 17, 18S8, bred Dec. 23, 1888. 



Lot II. Fed grain. 



No. I. Gem of Spring Brook, thoroughbred Jersey, five years 

 old, dropped last calf Jan. 4, 1889, bred May 31, 1889. 



No. 2. Dora, J/i blood Holstein, two years old, dropped last calf 

 Jan. 6, 1889, bred June 30, 1889. 



No. 3. Ruth, ]/q blood Holstein, four years old, dropped last 

 calf Sept. I, 1888, bred Nov. 24, 1888. 



That the two lots were fairly uniform is shown by the fact that 

 there was only five pounds difference in the total milk yield of 



