150 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



ROOTS SUPPLEMENTARY TO SILAGE FOR DAIRY COWS. 



BY R. S. SHAW AND H. W. NORTON^ JR. 



[The plans of tliis experiment were executed and the data prepared for publication by Mr. Norton.] 



Bulletin No. 240. 



The object of this series of experiments was to determine whether 

 the addition of roots to a complete ration containing silage would in- 

 crease the milk flow profitably, or not. It was in no sense a comparison 

 of the values of silage and roots, as that question has been investigated 

 heretofore and reported upon by the Pennsylvania Station, in bulletin 

 26, and by Ohio, in bulletin 50. 



By the use of the term complete, as applied to the ration of the dairy 

 cow in this case, we imply a proper balance with reference to the rela- 

 tive amounts of hay, silage, and concentrates when the cow is consum- 

 ing all she cares for of each. An animal may be said to be on full feed 

 as regards a certain ration and still may be induced to consume more 

 if an additional factor, especially palatable, is added. Scientific and 

 practical men agree that succulence is essential in the ration of the 

 dairy cow, and some have claimed that silage furnishes this quality 

 perfectly, hence the suggestion of this line of work. We should expect 

 entirely different results where less than a full feed of silage was given 

 and a marked advantage in favor of root feeding in a case where silage 

 was not available. 



GENERAL PLAN. 



Three separate feeding trials were made and a total number 

 of 40 cows used. In each case they were divided into tAVO lots equal 

 in number, and as nearly alike as possible from the standpoint of con- 

 diton of flesh, time from calving, and previous production when on the 

 same feed. The feeding trials covered eight weeks, and were divided 

 into two four-weeks periods. During the first period Lot 1 received 

 roots in addition to the regular ration ; during the second period Lot 2 

 received roots in addition, while Lot 1 received only the regular feed. 

 Every cow was weighed three successive days at the beginning of the 

 first period, at the beginning of the second and at the close of the second 

 period, the averages Ibeing taken as the correct weights for each time. 



Daily records were kept of all feed consumed and all milk produced, 

 each milking being weighed and sampled, the samples preserved and 

 tested weekly for butter fat. 



All the cows under experiment were fed regularly, stabled alike, 

 turned out to water once a day during the early spring, twice a day 

 later, and given the same general care and treatment. Reversing the 

 root feeding in the two periods, so that Lot 2 consumed the same amount 

 of roots as Lot 1, tended to equalize any differences due to the individu- 

 ality which would otherwise have rendered the results inaccurate. In 

 order that the trials should be fairly comparable the same scale of 

 prices was used in figuring the results, in both years, 1905 and 1906. 



