247 

 Ohio Station, Bulletin Vol. Ill, No. 5 (Second Series), June, 1890 (pp. 22). 



Corn silage vs. sugar beets as food for milk production, 

 C. E. Thorne and J. F. Hickman, M. S. A. (pp. 1.5;3-174:).— The ob- 

 ject of this experiineiit, wiiicli is similar to one made in 1889 (See Bul- 

 letin, Vol. II, No. 3, second series, of this station ; also Experi:nent 

 Station Kecord, Vol. I, p. 141), was to study the comparative feeding 

 values, for milk production, of sugar-beets and corn silage when fed 

 in such quantities as to give equal amounts of dry matter. Twelve 

 cows, registered Jerseys and grade Shorthorns, were selected from the 

 station herd of thirty and divided into four lots of three cows each, 

 the lots being as nearly alike as possible in total weights and milk 

 production, and each lot containing two Shorthorns and one Jersey. 



To lots A aud B were given ratious containing in the one case corn silage [27 

 pounds daily per animal] aud in the other beets [(50 pounds daily per animal], these 

 rations being fed during periods of three weeks and then transposed, the beet ration 

 being given to the lot which had had the silage ration during the preceding period 

 and vice versa. To lot C it was designed to feed sugar-beets and to lot Dcorn silage 

 throughout the experiment in the-same quantities respectively as these foods were 

 given to lots A and B [thus giving approximately 7 pounds of dry matter in each 

 ration], but the loss of a portion of the beets during tlie exceptionally warm winter 

 rendered a modification of this part of the original plan necessary, and on April 4 

 lot C was changed to silage, aud the silage ration of lot D was increased to 48 

 pounds. 



The silage used was made from dent field corn, planted so thickly as 

 to produce but little grain (about 4 per cent in the silage). The beets 

 were Lane's Improved Imperial, rather large and coarse. In addition 

 to the beets or silage, the daily ration of each cow contained 6 pounds 

 of bran and a weighed amount of clover ha}', the part left over being 

 weighed back each morning. In the case of the silage-fed cows 14 

 pounds of hay proved more than sufficient, except in one instance. As 

 several of the beet-fed animals were not satisfied with this amount, 

 their hay was increased from time to time, the object being to feed in 

 such quantities that a little hay would be found left over each day. 

 Throughout the experiment the bran was eaten clean by every cow. 

 The same was true of the beets and also of the silage, so long as it did 

 uot exceed 27 pounds, except that one cow refused part of both. Afte'r 

 a preparatory period, the actual feeding experiment commenced Febru- 

 ary 19 aud continued until April 2.3. Tables give the average live 

 weight lor each week, the average daily consumption of dry matter, 

 yield of milk, and total gain or loss of live weight per period; and two 

 diagrams show the fluctuations in live weight and in milk flow for 

 each cow. 



It appears that the six cows included in the two alternating lots A and B consumed 

 on an average about 2 pounds more of drj' matter per animal daily while feeding ou 

 beets than on silage ; that they each gave about 20 ounces more milk per day, and 

 gained a pound per day in weight, whereas they lost a pound ou silage. * » » 

 [Although the cows received as large a quantity of dry matter in the beet ration as 



