614 



280, and vol. ii, p. 3G9). "In two trials in two seasons vre have 

 received no return in milk or butter from feeding a grain ration to cows 

 on good pasture." The present experiment was made on a herd of six- 

 teen cows, which were believed to represent the average conditions of 

 the State more nearly than the herd at the station did. The cows had 

 been accustomed to receive only a moderate grain ration in winter and 

 none in summer. The herd was divided as nearly as possible into two 

 equal lots, lot 1 receiving grain and lot 2 only coarse food. The herd 

 had been turned to pasture April 25. The experiment lasted from May 

 23 to October 23 — 22 weeks. The pasture was at no time very hixu- 

 riaut. " On August 10, the pastures having become dry, both lots 

 began to receive a ration of green corn fodder of about 16 pounds per cow 

 per day. On September 9 the corn-fodder ration was changed to millet, 

 which continued until October 1, when second growth grass was used; 

 this continued until October 13, when i)umpkins began to be fed. The 

 rations of millet and mown grass were about the same in amount as the 

 corn ration; the i>umpkin ration was about 47 pounds per cow j>er day 

 in two feeds." 



The milk of each cow was weighed at every milking, and unce each 

 week, except at the first, when the intervals were longer, a sample of the 

 mixed milk of the eight cows at two successive milkings was taken for 

 analysis. On the basis ol these data the yield of milk and of buttei- 

 fatfor each lot was calculated. Theresultsare tabulated and graphically 

 represented in diagrams. During the 22 weeks lot 1 (grain-fed) pro- 

 duced 22,G2S.5 pounds of milk, and lot 2 (no grain) 17,(307.75 pounds, 

 or a gain of nearly 5,(M)U pounds of milk by the grain-fed lot. But 

 lot 1 consumed 2,(500 ]>ouiuls of corn meal an<l 1,300 pounds each of 

 cotton-seed meal and wheat bran, which, reckoned at )?20, m24, and $14: 

 per ton, resi)ectively, cost >'5(>,70. 



"If we estimate the milk at "Jl \)vi 100 pounds, which is rather more 

 than the average returns from cheese factories in this State will warrant, 

 the 5,000 ixmnds would be worth !?5(>. • * • On the basis of the 

 value ot the milk for butt<T making and estimating that 100 pounds 

 of butter fat in the milk would make 115 pounds of finished butt**r, 

 which could be sold at 20 cents per jiound," the value of 5,000 ])ouuds 

 ol milk is calculated as •'j'53. 70, Lot 1 gained IGG pounds i»er cow. and 

 lot 2, 113 pounds. "Of course it might be argued that it is notjuotit 

 able to feed a dairy herd for increase in live weight, and this is undoubt- 

 edly true in general, but with a herd in the spring, thin in tlesh, as 

 this one was, the eflect of the extra gain in the grain fed lot on their 

 next season's production must be at least worthy of consideration." 

 The milk of lot 1 averaged 4.C7 per cent, and that of lot 2, 4.70 per cent 

 of butter fat. 



As pointed out by the authors, the above statement makes no allow- 

 ance for the saving of the pasture and the increased value of the manure 

 from feeding grain. [Assuming 80 per cent of the fertilizing ingredi- 

 ents of the grain to be recovered in the manure, and allowing 15 cents 



