ALASKAN EXPERIENCE IN STOCK RAISING. 21 



The cow was in good condition at tlie close of the experiment, which indicates 

 that silage may with safety constitute a large portion of the ration of a dairy 

 cow. 



This experiment was undertaken at the suggestion of the Government agros- 

 tologist to determine in a measure if it were practicable to winter cattle in 

 Alaska on grass silage. 



The :'. i»ounds of ground oats were fed daily for the purpose of bringing the 

 corn silage up to a protein standard equaling that of mixed-grass silage. 



Protein prrcoitar/r of feed coiisiniied. 



Ground oats il. 56 



Corn silage 1 58 



Protein percentage of grass silage (approximately) 2.72 



Average amount of total protein consumed daily in 42 pounds of corn silage 

 and 3 pounds of ground oats, l.(tl pounds. Approximate amount of protein con- 

 tained in 40 pounds of grass silage, 1.08 i)Ounds. 



It will thus be seen that this test indicates that cattle can be successfully 

 wintered on grass silage and that dairy cows may be expected to yield a reason- 

 able amount of milk when fed exclusively on this feed. 



ALASKAN EXPERIENCE IN STOCK RAISING. 



Hof/s. — A few hogs were seen at various Alaska villages. They 

 are fed refuse, and graze on various succulent plants when obtain- 

 able. They are very fond of wild rice, the bulb of a lilylike plant 

 {Fritillaria kamtschatica), which, however, is not very abundant. 

 Unfortunately these animals are prone to feed on fish ofl'al and other 

 sea refuse, and as a consequence their flesh has a disagreeable flavor. 

 Unquestionably there is too little fieed adapted to hogs to make their 

 raising profitable in Alaska. 



Goats. — Angora goats have l)een tested by the Alaska Commercial 

 Company at Kadiak and by Rev. C. P. Coe at Wood Island. 

 According to Mr. Washburn, formerly resident superintendent of the 

 Alaska Commercial Company at Kadiak, the company had a few^ 

 years ago about 50 head of these animals on Ukamak Island, near 

 Kadiak, which were entirely self-sustaining, increasing about 60 per 

 cent each year. The mohair is said to have been good, both in quan- 

 tity and quality. 



Rev. C. P. Coe, of Wood Island, has several head of Angora ffoats 

 which have passed the last two winters Avith but little care. This 

 year his herd has shown very satisfactory increase, and no difficulty is 

 anticipated in wintering the kids. A large part of their feed is 

 derived from willows and other browse, and where this is abundant 

 the animals need but little feed in winter. Owing to their tracta- 

 bility and the ease wdth which they are kept, especially where browse 

 is abundant. Angora goats should prove most useful animals both 

 for the natives and for whites. 



