374 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol.38 



Back-yard poultry keeping, R. R. Slocum {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bnl. 

 889 (1917), pp. 22, figs. IS). — Attention is called to the value of a small flock 

 of hens kept in the back yard as a means of reducing the cost of living of the 

 family and enhancing the aggregate of food produced. Egg production rather 

 than breeding poultry and the utilization of waste foods from the household 

 are the main points br6ught out. The following suggestions are given : The size 

 of the flock should be at least ten well-matured pullets rather than hens; 

 scraps from the table and some green feed grown in the yard should make up 

 most of the feed ; no male should be kept as egg production throughout the 

 season should be sought ; and in the fall when the hens stop laying and begin 

 to molt they should be killed for the table. Other useful suggestions as to 

 housing and management are incorporated. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



The role of water in a dairy cow's ration, C. Laesen, B. H. Hungeeford, and 

 D. E. Bailey {ISoutfi Dakota .S7o. Bui. 175 (1917), pp. 6-^9-692 ) .—This investi- 

 gation was conducted for the purpose of ascertaining the effects of watering the 

 cow at different intervals and in varying amounts upon the amount of food 

 consumed, digestibility of nutrients, amount and composition of feces and urine, 

 amount and composition of milk, composition and quality of milk fat, body 

 temperature, and physical condition of the cows. The bulletin also furnishes 

 some data on the mineral metabolism of the cow.. 



Four cows were used during the first part of the experiment, January 2 to 

 September 20, 1914, and three different cows during the second part, November 

 16, 1915, to January 26, 1916. There were three experimental periods of 30 

 days each, preceded in each case by a preliminary period of 30 days. During 

 the first two preliminary periods the cows were watered every 8 hours, and 

 during the third preliminary period they were watered every 12 hours. Dur- 

 ing the first experimental period the cows were watered once in 24 hours. 

 During the second experimental period one cow was watered once in 12 hours 

 and the other three cows oaee in 60 hours. In the third experimental period 

 one cow was given a full allowance of water once in 24 hours and the other 

 two cows one-half an allowance once in 24 hours. The rations consisted of 8 

 lbs. of a grain mixture of oats, bran, and linseed meal (3:3:1), 25 lbs. of corn 

 silage, 1 oz. of salt, and all the hay they would eat. The amount of feed and 

 water consumed, milk produced, and urine and feces voided was recorded, and 

 samples of each were analyzed at stated intervals. The changes in milk fat 

 constants during the experimental periods were also determined. 



During the first 60-day period the four cows together consumed daily about 

 7 lbs. of hay less, 2 lbs. of silage less, and 9 lbs. of water less when they were 

 watered but once each day than when they were watered once each 8 hours. 

 There was also a slight decrease in milk, amounting to nearly 2 lbs. per day. 

 The cows lost an average of 11 lbs. each during the first experimental period, 

 while during the preliminary period they gained 18 lbs. each. When the cows 

 received water once in 60 hours they lost 17 lbs. in weight in 30 days. When 

 they received only one-half the normal amount of water every 24 hours they 

 lost an average of 95 lbs. each in 30 days. In the periods when the cows re- 

 ceived a full quota of water at long intervals there was not a very decided 

 decrease in milk production. When they received only one-half the normal 

 amount of water evei-y 24 hours the milk flow decreased from an average of 

 18.26 to 14.06 lbs. daily. There was also a noticeable decrease in the amount of 

 hay consumed. 



