376 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol.88 



Ing cottonseed meal, linseed meal, and gluten feed and alfalfa hay and soy-bean 

 hay for milk production. Three lots of 5 cows each were fed for 180 days, the 

 feeds being changed at the eixl of each 30-day period. During the test each lot 

 received in addition to ground corn and corn silage (1) cottonseed meal and 

 alfalfa hay, (2) cottonseed meal and soy-bean hay, (3) linseed meal and alfalfa 

 hay, (4) linseed meal and soy-bean hay, (.5) gluten feed and alfalfa hay, and 

 (6) gluten feed and soy-bean hay. Analyses are given of the feeds used in the 

 experiment. 



The co^A^ consumed approximately 1 lb. of grain and 1 lb. of hay per 100 

 lbs. of body weight. A larger amount of alfalfa hay was consumed than of soy- 

 baan hay. The grain mixture was compounded according to a standard that 

 would insure a uniform nutritive ratio for all the rations tested. The corn and 

 cottonseed meal were mixed in the proportion of 16 : 1 when fed with alfalfa 

 hay, and 10 : 1 when fed with soy-bean hay. Corn and linseed meal were mixed 

 in the proportion of 14 : 1 when fed with alfalfa hay, and 7 : 1 when fed with 

 soy-bean hay. When fed with alfalfa hay corn and gluten feed were mixed in 

 the proportion of 8 : 1, and with soy-bean hay, 4 : 1. Tlie daily dry matter con- 

 sumption per cow varied from 20.82 to 22.9 lbs. and the protein consumption 

 from 2.52 to 2.7 lbs. for all the rations. After the first 30-day period, during 

 which the cows gained an average of slightly over 1 lb. each daily, they uni- 

 formly gained about i lb. on soy-bean hay and lost about an equal amount on 

 alfalfa hay. However, the nutritive ratios of the rations containing alfalfa 

 hay averaged 1 : 7.81, and of those containing soy-bean hay, 1 : 6.92. 



The cows averaged 19.64 lbs. of milk and 0.9 lb. of fat per day on the al- 

 falfa hay rations, and 18.41 lbs. of milk and 0.86 lb. of fat on the soy-bean hay 

 rations. The feed cost of producing 100 lbs. of milk averaged 99 cts. on the 

 alfalfa hay rations, and $1.07 on the soy-bean hay rations. There was only a 

 very slight variation in the feed cost of milk due to the type of protein-car- 

 rying concentrates used. At $15 per ton alfalfa hay returned 10 cts. more per 

 dollar invested than soy-bean hay. The data brought out in the experiments 

 are illustrated graphically. 



Nutrients returned by dairy cows. — Stage of lactation and individuality 

 affect cost of milk production, R. I. Gkady {Mo. Bui. Ohio Sta., 2 (1917), No. 

 11, pp. 365-369, fig. 1). — Data obtained from 36 herds consisting of 720 cows in 

 various parts of the State indicate that, of the feed consumed by these cows 

 from November to April, 7.71 per cent of the total digestible nutrients was 

 suitable for human food. 



During the first month of their lactation period 157 Jerseys returned as milk 

 solids 22.2 per cent of the digestible nutrients consumed, and during the tenth 

 month 7.3 per cent. Similarly, 131 Holsteins during the first month of their 

 lactation period returned 19.2 per cent, and during the tenth month only 6.8 per 

 cent of the digestible nutrients consumed. During the 10 months of the lacta- 

 tion period the Jerseys made an average return of 15.8 pel" cent, and the 

 Holsteins 14.9 per cent. 



The best Jerseys required 3.3 lbs. and the best Holsteins 3.9 lbs. of digestible 

 nutrients for each pound of total solids produced. The poorest Jerseys required 

 9.4 lbs. and the poorest Holsteins 11.8 lbs. of digestible nutrients for each 

 pound of solids produced. 



Breeds of dairy cattle, H. P. Davis {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 893 

 {1911), pp. 34, figs. 19). — This outlines the factors to be considered in the selec- 

 tion of a dairy breed, and discusses the origin and characteristics of the Ayr- 

 shire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian, and Jersey breeds. The 

 official score card for cows adopted by each of the breed associations and the 



