DAIEY FARMING^ — DAIRYING. 475 



productivity of their lierds. Averages reflect tlie practice, usage, and returns 

 from the group, but do not reflect the cost of production that may be attained 

 by the skilled individual manager. . . . 



" The financial results, as shoviTi in the appendix, give the effect that the 

 daily enterprise has had upon net income irrespective of its relation to fertility 

 of the land or upon crop productions. On the Northfield route, 1905-1909, the 

 net income as obtained from tlie dairy enterprise, which takes into considera- 

 tion not only the sales of product, but also profits obtained through the sale of 

 dairy stock, was $10,444.99, or $2,089 per year for an average of 116 cows. This 

 profit has been obtained through sales of live stock rather than from the milk, 

 but has had a vei-y marked effect upon the profits of the farm as a whole. At 

 Marshall, 1906-1909, the dairy enterprise was operated at a net loss of $438.97, 

 or $109.74 per year, an a^•erage of $2.88 per cow annually. Halstad also showed 

 an operating loss, amounting to $4,222.19 for 1904-1909, or $703.70 per year, an 

 average of $8.91 per cow annually. However, in spite of the operating loss in 

 direct income, due chiefly to uneconomical forms of production, the dairy enter- 

 prise has aided materially in making the farm business, as a whole, more profit- 

 able. Detailed study of cost of production and of the items of cost which affect 

 efficiency, hence, the cost of production per unit of product, indicates clearly the 

 possibilities of direct profit that may be obtained from this entei'prise.' 



A digestion trial with, two Jersey cows on full ration and on maintenance, 

 C. H. EcKLES {Missouri Sta. Research Bui. //, pp. 5-22, pi. 1). — This bulletin 

 is devoted to a summary of work previously noted (E. S. R., 24. p. 76), with 

 some additional data. A digestion trial is also reported with the same 2 cows 

 when dry and on a maintenance ration. 



" The ration used was the same in both trials except in quantity. When on 

 full ration the percentage digested was lower with both animals and for each 

 constituent of the ration than the average figures in common use. 



" The cow which received the most liberal ration digested 66.27 per cent of 

 the entire ration. According to the digestion coefficients in common use she 

 should have digested 70.81 per cent. The same cow on maintenance digested 

 73.79 per cent of the ration. The average figures for the same ration are 

 69.1 per cent. The second cow, receiving about 50 per cent less feed, during 

 the trial when in milk digested 66.95 per cent of the ration. On maintenance 

 the same animal digested 72.19. According to the average figures in use she 

 should have digested 70.79 per cent in the first trial and 69.7 for the second. 



" These results suggest that the average digestion coefficients in use are 

 somewhat high as applied to cows producing large quantities of milk which 

 requires a heavy ration and that accurate figures for this purpose s;hould be 

 obtained from experiments with cows in milk." 



Maintenance trials with five Jersey cows, C. H. Eckles {Missouri Sta. 

 Research Bui. 5, pp. 2.5-.'/S, figs. 3). — The maintenance requirement was deter- 

 mined for the 2 cows used in the work noted above, and for 3 other high-class 

 .Tersey cows for periods ranging from 120 to 180 days. Four of these received 

 the same ration, except in amount, as when in full flow of milk, namely, corn 

 silage 4 parts, alfalfa hay 1 part, and grain mixture 1 part. The fifth cow 

 received the ration used at the station for fattening steers. Chemical analyses 

 were made of all the food consumed. 



" The data presented show that while there was some variation with the 

 individuals the 4 receiving the normal dairy ration averaged 6.08 therms per 

 1,000 lbs. calculated by using Armsby's ' Production Value ' tables. 



" A comparison was made with Haecker's standard by reducing it to energy 

 value by using Kellner's ' Production Values.' Calculated in this way the 

 energy value of Haecker's ration is 8.42 therms for 1,000 lbs. live weight. 



