DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 



67 



LOT II. 



The effect of ensilage in the mixei] ration of this lot is very marked, 

 the sake of perspicuity the feed and returns are given side by side. 



For 



PERIOD. 



First fort.nio;ht 



Second and third fort- 

 -average ... 



nights- 



Feed Consumed Daily. 



Meal, 10 tt)S. ; liay, 11 J^ tbs. ; cornstallcs, 18 lbs 



Meal. 91^ lbs. ; hny, 13 7-1 tbs. ; ensilage, 44 9-10 tbs. 



Osiiii in 

 \V..i(;lit 

 ]lfV f(il t 



niuht. 



G2 tbs. 



Loss i n 



Wfinht 



per fort- 



iiij;lit. 



10 tbs. 



The ration of this lot was a full one during all the time covered by the 

 above comparison; that is, the animals had all the rough feed they would eat. 



LOT III, 



This lot, of two dry cows, had 7 })ounds meal, 15 pounds hay, 22 pounds 

 cornstalks, 21 pounds oat straw, and 30 pounds roots, daily, for the first two 

 weeks. The gain in weight during this time was 52 pounds. 



During the second and third fortnights, the daily ration of this lot was 6f 

 pounds nieal, 13f pounds hay, 18^ pounds each of cornstalks and oat straw, 

 and 30 pounds ensilage. In other words the ensilage was substituted for roots, 

 pound for pound, while the dry feed ingredients of the ration were cut down 

 a little, to get the cows to eat the full allowance of ensilage. Again, the gaia 

 in weight was 52 pounds each fortnight. This lot and also Lot II were 

 divided at the end of third fortnight. They will be noticed again. 



LOT IV. 



This lot, consisting of three bull calves, received daily during the first fort- 

 night, 16^ pounds meal, 29-^ pounds hay, and 42 pounds roots. During the 

 second, third, and fourth fortnights, the average daily ration of the lot was 

 17 pounds meal, 14|- pounds hay, and 8()f pounds ensihige. For the fifth and 

 sixth fortnights, the calves consumed daily, on the average, 17^ pounds meal, 

 15| pounds hay, and 89^ pounds ensilage. The gains of the lot for the differ- 

 ent periods are here given : 



First fortnight, gain in weight 122 pounds. 



Second, third, and fourtli fortnights, average gain in weight per fortnight. 107 " 

 Fifth and sixth fortnights, average gain in weight per fortnight 118.5 " 



The comparison seems to be unfavorable to ensilage; but before drawing 

 anv conclusions let us review the facts. At the end of the first fortnight, 

 ensilage was made to take the place of the roots pound for pound, and also of 

 15 pounds of the hay, three pounds for one. Tiie !iO pounds of ensilage had 

 in the 15 pounds hay and 45 pounds roots, a strong competitor, to say the 

 least. The calv6s could not take this allowance of ensihige, as the cable 

 clearly shows. Yet, during the last two fortnights, on nearly the full feed of 

 ensilage, the gains approach very closely to that of the first period. 



2. By Individuals : 



As Lots II and III were divided at the end of the third fortnight, the fol- 

 lowing comparisons are of single animals, and cover the whole time of the 



