DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 371 



Results of studies made of the factors influencing the development of dairy 

 heifers indicate that ordinary variations of feed have no measurable effect 

 upon the development of the dairy functions. The tendency to produce milk is 

 apparently an inherited characteristic not subject to much, if any, modification 

 by feeding. 



New method for determining the production value of feeding stuffs 

 in the feeding of dairy cows, N. Hansson (K. Landtbr. Akad. Handl. 

 och Tidskr., 52 (1913), No. 8, pp. 633-647; Meddel Centralanst. Forsoksv. 

 Jordbruksonmldet, No. 85 {1913), pp. 17; Fuhling's Landw. Ztg., 63 {1914), 

 No. 2, pp. 41-53; abs. in Inteniat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and 

 Plant Diseases, 5 {1914), No. 1, pp. 84-87). — In feeding trials with dairy cows 

 the Kellner starch value did not prove an exact measure of the feeds used for 

 the production of milk. The difference between this starch value and the 

 Swedish and Danish food-unit values is ascribed to the fact that Kellner's 

 figures are the result of fattening exiieriments with steers, while the Swedish 

 food-unit values are founded on experiments with milch cows; fats, carbon- 

 hydrates, and crude fiber have the same value in the 2 cases, but protein is 

 more advantageously used in the in-oduction of the milk proteins than in the 

 putting on of fat. It was found that by reckoning the digestible protein of fod- 

 der at 1.43 instead of 0.94 (Kellner's figure) the calculated values corresponded 

 to those which resulted from the feeding experiments. 



A method is proposed for calculating the milk-producing value which differs 

 from Kellner's method for the calculation of the starch value only as regards 

 the factor for the reduction of protein. A table is given showing the value of 

 some of the principal feeding stuffs based upon this method. From this it is 

 seen that one food-unit is generally equivalent to about 0.75 of the new values. 

 By means of the new method a valuation may be made for feeding stuffs of 

 tlie most varied composition provided their content of digestible matter is 

 known. 



The problem of the protein minimum in the dairy ration and of the 

 market value of feeding stuffs, M. Hoffmann {Mitt. Dent. Landw. Oesell., 

 29 {1914), No. 11. pp. 162-165). — Answers received to numerous inquiries made 

 in the various Provinces of Germany indicated that but 20 per cent of the 

 dairymen are using the Kellner standard, showing that that standard is not 

 deemed entirely satisfactory. While the Kellner method is based on the 

 assumption that 1 kg. of protein is equal to 0.94 kg. starch value, the equiva- 

 lents in actual use range from i to f and f . 



It is suggested that a uniform system of estimating market value of feeds 

 is necessary. 



Breeds of cattle of Switzerland, A. Gebtsch {Rev. Vet. e Zootech., 4 {1914), 

 No. 1, pp. 21-48, pis. 9). — This is a discussion of the breed characteristics and 

 milking capacity of the Swiss, Simmental. and Freiberg breeds of cattle of 

 Switzerland. 



The age for breeding dairy heifers, E. Sihn {KimbalVs Dairy Farmer, 12 

 {1914), No. 8, p. 233). — This article reports the experiences of E. Tesdorpf of 

 Denmark, covering observations for 10 years, in which 206 heifers calved at 

 2 years of age and 193 calved at 3 years. The average milk yield in the first 

 lactation period was for the 2-year-olds 5,355 lbs. and for the 3-year-olds 5,676 

 lbs. However, in comparing the yields from the fourth to ninth years In 

 which time the greatest development of the milk-yielding quality takes place, 

 the 2-year-olds fully measured up to the 3-year-olds, and their vitality was 

 equally as good if not better. With regard to abortion and failure to get in 

 calf the 3-year-olds showed no advantage. 

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