DAIRY FARMING — DAIRYING. ' 1019 



from the body fat, that is, tallow; aud in the same proportion, as a rnle, 

 the lower the content of volatile fatty acids in the milk fat the hif^her 

 its melting' point. 



Feeding tests, J. T.. Hills ( Vermont Sfa. Jipt. 189r>^pp. M'i-^SO).— 

 These were made dnring- the winter of 1805- 9(», using- .'51 cows in all. 

 The trials covered 5 periods of 4 weeks each, the first 10 days in each 

 case being regarded as i»reparatory and the last IS days experimental. 

 Data are tabulated for each of the separate trials, including the yield 

 and composition of the milk of each cow; the composition of the corn 

 silage, beets, carrots, corn meal, wheat bran, corn-oil cake, Atlas gluten 

 meal, cotton-seed bran, and mixed feed is given, and a record of the 

 barn temperature. 



Corn silage rs. beets. — Four cows were alternated for 4 weeks on silage 

 and beets fed ad libitum in addition to a constant ration of grain and hay. 



"More dry matter was eateu when beets were fed than when corn sila.ue was fed 

 [but there was a nearly e(iuivaleiit increase in the yield during the boot i)criod]. 



"One hnndred pounds of dry matter, both in the entire ration and in the experi- 

 mental fodder, gave slightly larger returns when silage was fed than when it was 

 replaced by beets, making 1 per cent more milk and total solids, and 4 per cent more 

 butter fat. These dift'ercnces are too small to lay stress upon, and apparently in 

 these tests the dry matter of each fodder had about equiil feeding values. 



"There was no material change in the ([uality of the milk. 



"Inasmuch as the dry matter of corn silage is but 66 per cent digestible, while 

 that of beets ranges from 78 (maugel-wurzels) to 94 per cent (sugar beets) in digesti- 

 bility, it folloAvs that a pound of digestible dry matter in corn silage gave larger 

 returns in these tests than a pound of digestible dry mjitter in beets. 



"The incomplete digestion of the hay, observed during the beet-feeding periods, 

 should be borne in mind in this connection as probably a not unimportant factor in 

 tlie results." 



The results obtained in similar comparisons at the Ohio,' Pennsyl- 

 vania,- and Vermont^ stations are cited. 



"The results of the tests now under discussion appear to be in line with those 

 hitherto made, and they may be all summarized as follows: 



" (1) Beets cost more to grow, harvest, and store, yield less per acre, and produce 

 at best no more and no better milk than corn silage. 



"(2) Beets are much liked by cows and serve an excellent purpose, when fed in 

 small quantities, as an appetizer. They serve to promote the general health and 

 digestion, particularly if no other succulent food is at hand." 



Corn sil<(f/e vs. carrots. — Three cows were alternated on silage and 

 carrots fed ad libitum for 4 [)eriods. These were fed with a constant 

 ration of hay and mixed grain. 



"The milk made while carrots were fed was somewhat thinner tliaii lli.it given 

 when silage was fed. 



"One luindrefl pounds of dry matter in the entire ration during carrot feeding 



' Ohio Sta. Buls., Vol. II, 3; Vol. Ill, 5; No. 50 (E. S. R., 1, p. 141 ; 2, p. 247; 5, p. 

 887). 



^Pennsylvania Sta. Rpt. 1890, p. 113; Bui. 26 (E. S. K., 3, p. 716; 6, p. 446). 

 'Vermont Sta. Rpt. 1894, p. 148 (E. S. R., 8, p. 86). 



