EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 297 



Linseed Meal. — There are offered in the markets two classes of linseed 

 meal, old process and new process. Both have been fed at this station 

 with good results. They have been used as a source of protein and to 

 give variety to the ration. Ordinarily the amounts fed per day have 

 been less than two pounds and seldom more than one. In exceptional 

 cases, as in that of Rosa Bonheur, as high as six or more pounds per 

 thousand pounds live weight per day have been fed without injury. The 

 high price of the product prevents its more extended use. The cows 

 prefer the coarsely ground oil cake, the so-called pea size old process 

 linseed meal to the finely ground. 



No effect of the introduction of linseed meal on the quality of the butler 

 appears in the records of the dairy work at the station. Fed as it is in 

 connection with a variety of grains, no such effect could be expected. 



Cotton Seed Meal. — This by-product heads the list as far as richness in 

 protein is concerned. Its price is usually somewhat higher than that of 

 linseed meal, but ordinarily it will furnish protein fully as cheaply, if not 

 more so, than the by-products of the linseed oil mills. Experience in 

 its use at this station will warrant its recommendation to dairymen 

 to be fed in amounts not larger than two pounds per cow per day. Fed 

 in this way, it supplies a large amount of digestible protein and gives 

 the cow an appetite for the coarser forage plants, like cornstalks or even 

 straw. In purchasing cotton seed meal care should be exercised to see 

 that the indigestible hulls of the seed have been removed. 



The feeding of cotton seed meal is usually accompanied by an increased 

 hardness of the butter. If fed in excess, the quality of the butter suffers, 

 as does also the health of the cow. Common-sense, however, will prevent 

 the misuse of a food so inordinately rich in protein. 



Wheat Bran — Letters received at the station indicate that in some 

 parts of Michigan a prejudice exists against roller process wheat bran, 

 while elsewhere an equal prejudice is found in its favor. Some farmers 

 prefer finely ground bran, others like better the coarser samples. The 

 product of roller mills is not uniform as to fineness of flakes, some turning 

 out at times a very light and flaky product and at other times bran more 

 finely ground. In some samples of roller process bran the germ is ground 

 with it. In the burr stone process the germ is ground with the 

 Hour. In the roller process the wheat is not infrequently dampened 

 before grinding to toughen the outer coats of the kernel and to bring 

 away the bran in as large particles as possible. 



In the spring of 1897 the analyses of 14 samples of bran were made 

 by Mr. Lewis S. Munson, and the results presented as his graduating 

 thesis. The work was done under the close supervision of the chemical 

 department of the station, with all the usual safeguards against error. 

 Later three samples of bran were sent to the station from Minneapolis 

 as typical specimens of the first, second and third grades of bran which 

 the large mills turn out. These samples were also analyzed by the 

 chemical department of this station, and the results are given in the 

 tables below, following the analyses reported by Mr. Munson. 

 38 



