1918] DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 175 



solids practically the same for the two liinds of rations. The millv and fat pro- 

 duction per 100 lbs. of dry matter iu the rations was from 5 to 8 per cent 

 higher on the silage rations than on the dry roughage ration. 



Experiments were also conducted to furnish information regarding the 

 comparative value for milk production of corn silage and silage made from 

 Sudan grass or sweet sorghum. In comparing Sudan grass silage and corn 

 silage 21 cows were fed three periods of 4 weeks each on alfalfa hay and a 

 gi-aiu mixture of dried beet pulp, coconut meal, wheat bran, and rolled barley 

 (4:1:1:1), and in addition corn silage during the first and third periods and 

 Sudan grass silage during the second period. During the corn-silage periods 

 there was slightly larger production than during the Sudan grass silage period. 

 On the basis of dry matter content of the rations the corn silage rations were 

 about 10 per cent more efficient than the Sudan grass silage. 



In a further test 28 cows were fed as in the above experiment except that 

 sweet sorghum silage was fed instead of Sudan grass silage. In this test all 

 but 3 cows received concentrates in addition to alfalfa hay and silage. Only 

 insignificant differences in the effect of the two silage rations on the produc- 

 tion of the cows were found. When compared on the basis of dry matter con- 

 tent the sweet sorghum silage rations were about 5 per cent more efficient than 

 the corn silage rations. 



Results of analyses of the feeds used in these tests are tabulated. 



[Tests of irrigated pastures], D. Hansen {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant 

 Indus., Work Huntley Expt. Farm, 1916, pp. 14-16, fig. 1). — A test of the 

 carrying capacity of pastures, previously reported (E. S. R., 36, p. 173), was 

 continued. Two grade Jersey cows were pastured from May 8 to October 1, 

 1916, or 146 days, on a pasture of mixed grasses, supplemented at times with 

 alfalfa hay. During the period the cov>'s produced 145 lbs. of milk fat, and 

 gave a net return of $49.76 per acre for the pasture. 



In a preference test of individual grasses, several plats of grasses were 

 thrown into one inclosure and pastured by a cow. She showed a decided 

 preference for white clover and brome grass. After grazing these plats rather 

 closely preference was shown for the remainder of the grasses in the following 

 order : Meadow fescue, orchard grass, tall fescue, and perennial rye grass. 



Notes on pasturing a heifer and sheep are included. 



Report of progress on animal husbandry investigations iu 1916, R. Peakl 

 (Maine Sta. Bui. 261 (1917), pp. 121-144)- — Progress reports are made on the 

 following lines of work : 



Cooperative breeding records. — For the purpose of this study about 200 of 

 the leading breeders of cattle in Maine, and a few outside of the State, are 

 contributing exact records of the breeding operations in their herds. From 

 data thus furnished and here tabulated, including 3,085 cows and heifers and 

 217 bulls in 192 herds, it appears that the great majority of this group of 

 breeders attempt to follow some definite rule in regard to the time of the heat 

 period at which the cow shall be served, ostensibly for the purpose of control 

 of the sex of the offspring. About 42 per cent of these breeders think that 

 early service is most likely to get heifer calves, while about 27 per cent think 

 that service late in heat and 3.1 per cent think that when cows are bred in the 

 middle of heat this end is obtained. An examination of the actual times of 

 breeding, however, shows that these 192 breeders are having more of their 

 cows served in the mid-oestral period than either very early or very late. 



Physiology of reproduction. — It is noted that the station will soon issue a 

 bulletin on this subject, with special reference to the breeding of dairy cattle. 



The control of the sex ratio. — From a study of statistics which it is stated 

 are soon to be published, it appears that there is no definite or permanent rela- 



