DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 77 



from the first year of a cow-testing association including 134 cows, with an 

 aA'erage production of 6,019 lbs. milk and 246 lbs. milk fat, at a net profit of 

 $54.89. Great variations were found in the various animals. The general 

 advantages of cow-testing associations are discussed. 



Dairy feeding and the home mixing of feeds, A. S. Cook (New Jersey Stas. 

 Circ. 7 (rev.), pp. 1^). — This circular explains the principles involved in the 

 balancing of feed rations for dairy cows and illustrates the use of these prin- 

 ciples in compounding rations and grain mixtures. A number of desirable 

 grain mixtures that may be fed with the different roughages are suggested. 



[Feeding experiments] (Min. Agr. et Trav. Puh. [Belgium^, Off. Rural Raps, 

 et Communs., No. 2 {1912), pp. 160). — This reports numerous private feeding 

 experiments with dairy cattle conducted on farms throughout France and 

 Belgium. 



Comparison of alfalfa hay and alfalfa silage as a feed for dairy cows, 

 G. H. True et al. (Nevada Sta. Rpt. 1913, p. 39). — In a preliminary trial with 

 4 dairy cows, 2 fed on alfalfa hay and a grain ration, and 2 on alfalfa silage 

 and a grain ration, it became evident that alfalfa silage alone could not be used 

 as the only roughage, and a portion of the silage was replaced by hay. It was 

 noticed in this connection that while alfalfa silage and alfalfa hay caused 

 constipation, the silage alone resulted in the opposite effect. It is believed 

 from the results obtained from this preliminary experiment that alfalfa silage 

 has no beneficial effect on milk production. 



Prickly pear cactus as a feed for dairy cows ( U. 8. Dept. Agr. Press Notice, 

 1914, January 1/f, pp. 2). — In experiments conducted by this Department at 

 Brownsville, Tex., in feeding prickly pear cactus to dairy cows, this feed was 

 found to be veiy palatable and when judiciously fed was in no way detrimental 

 to the cow or her product. From 60 to 100 lbs. of the pear per cow per day 

 appeared to be a satisfactory amount. Larger quantities caused a laxative 

 condition. The pear was found to be low in protein and high in mineral 

 matter, with from 87 to 93 per cent of water. 



Compared with other roughages the pear was found to have a relative value 

 for production of milk fat wherein 1 lb. of sorghum hay, sorghum silage, 

 or cotton-seed hulls is equal to 10.1, 3.3, and 8.8 lbs., respectively, of pear. The 

 feeding of pear apparently decreased the total amount of milk fat and the per- 

 centage of solids-not-fat, but increased the total yield of milk. The pear 

 produced a higher colored butter than did the dry feed, but the flavor of the 

 milk was not impaired in any way. Cows fed pear appeared to be more 

 sensitive to cold weather than when fed dry feed. Pear-fed cows required 

 but little drinking water. Both spiny and spineless varieties were fed in these 

 trials, but no difference could be detected in chemical composition or feeding 

 values for milk production. 



Effect of concentrated feeds on butter (Mark Lane Express, 111 (1914), 

 No. 4300, p. 295). — The results of general experience on the effect of concen- 

 trated feeds on butter are summarized, particularly crushed barley and barley 

 meals, malt sprouts and brewers' grains, crushed oats, wheat bran, crushed rye 

 and rye offals, crushed maize and maize offals, ci-ushed buckwheat and buck- 

 wheat offals, peas and beans, vetches, cotton-seed meal and cake, peanut cake, 

 coconut cake, linseed cake, palm-nut cake and meal, rape-seed oil residues, 

 sesame cake, sunflower cake, meat meal, fish meal, and fresh and dried 

 sugar-beet slices. 



Weight of butter (Maine Sta. Off. Insp. 51 (1913), pp. 77-93).— Continuing 

 previous work as to short weight butter (E. S. R., 28, p. 879), it is shown that, 

 while there is still much short weight, on the whole an improvement is noted 



