No. 5. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 391 



You will notice that corn stover is one of the best feeds, and a 

 cheap source of energy. Three to four pounds per day of corn stover 

 is sufficient. Then comes clover and alfalfa; these are ideal, and 

 every farmer should have one or the other. If you feed silage from 

 twenty-five to thirty pounds, as 1 have suggested, corn stover from 

 three to four pounds, corn from three to four pounds, and top off 

 with hay, from four to seven pounds, you will have an excellent mix- 

 ture. If it is timothy hay that our cows are called ujjon to eat, about 

 five pounds will be sufficient; if it is alfalfa hay, it would be about 

 seven pounds. Clover hay, it would be about six pounds. It is like 

 with us; if their feed is palatable, they will eat more of it. These 

 grain mixtures are usually selected with different purposes in view; 

 first, to produce the cheapest form of energy; the second, to produce 

 the cheapest form of protein; the third is variety, and the fourth 

 palatability. In a general way, we must say that the four grains pro- 

 duce the best results, because the cow likes the variety and will give 

 the best returns. 



The prices on this chart are not necessarily correct for the present 

 time. Prices are probably higher today than they were when this 

 chart was prepared, but you can easily figure out the ratio for your- 

 selves. It is not primarily the cost of a ton but it is the cost of 100 

 pounds of protein and 100 therms of net energy which determine 

 the true cost of a feed. 



You will note by this chart that the cheapest form of protein is in 

 cotton-seed meal; and the cheapest form of energy in the corn stover, 

 but out here you will find that the very cheapest is corn at $1.12. 

 Corn and corn stover are the cheapest forms of energy at these prices. 

 The second one on the list is silage. The three forms of corn are 

 the cheapest source of energy. 



Now, then, what shall we have for bulk? Here we have bran at 

 $24, and Ajax at $30. Wheat bran seems to have more feeding ratio 

 than the protein and energy given on the chart would indicate. Then 

 we must look over the chart to see what we need for variety. There 

 is gluten, which furnishes protein cheaply, but energy .at a higher 

 price. It is necessary to keep the cows' bowels in proper shape, and 

 for that purpose, both these feeds work every well. 



Most of you are familiar with Bulletin No. 114, of the Experiment 

 Station, on the "Computation of Daily Kations," which covers this 

 subject thoroughly. ^^Tiat I am saying this morning is more in the 

 form of a few points for you to carry home and think over. 



In the winter time, when you want the best results, you will have 

 to feed some succulent food, some roughage, for bulk, and some con- 

 centrates. Coming down here on the train this morning, I heard two 

 farmers discussing the question of feed. I heard one of them say 

 that when he fed silage, he never fed corn in his grain. Now, the 

 chances are that that man is making a mistake, because corn is prob- 

 ably his cheapest source of energy. Largely because his corn in the 

 silage is no reason why he should not have some in his grain. It is 

 estimated that three pounds of silage equals in value one pound of 

 hay ; in feeding the ordinary cow six pounds of clover hay, and thirty 

 pounds of silage, is equal to fifteen pounds of clover hay. In addition, 

 a succulent food produces an additional flow of milk. It is worth 

 while to study the value of the different feeds in composition as weU 

 as in dollars and cents. During Farmers' Week, so many men spoke 



