280 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"From iill obtainable data, an estimate has been made of the principal items con- 

 nected with the dairy industry in these States. The figures given in the following 

 table can not be verified, but there are good reasons for considering tbem approxi- 

 mately correct: 



Extent and value of dairy interests in Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. 



" The most probable cause of error in tbis table is the low annual milk yield 

 assigned to the cows in these States, but the rates given are sustained by reports of 

 actual facts, which appear to be reliable. The figures exhibit the average milch 

 cow of this region to be an animal of very doubtful profit, for in South Dakota^ 

 which makes the best showing, the gross income per cow, in milk, would be but $15 

 a year." 



The chapter on ladled butter gives a description of much of the farm 

 butter brought to country stores aud the way in which it is handled 

 and "renovated," the result being known as "ladles." It is estimated 

 that fully 9,200,000 lbs. of ladled butter was produced in 1895 from the 

 3 States named. "The extension of the creamery system is probably 

 the surest and the quickest way of correcting the evil. But much 

 farm-to-farm teaching of the elementary principles of caring for milk 

 and of making and marketing butter is needed." 



Dairy feeding as practiced in Pennsylvania, E. H. Hess (Penn- 

 sylvania Dept. Ayr. Bid. 16, pp. 125). — This bulletin contains a popular 

 statement as to the average composition of feeding stuffs, the use of 

 ieeding standards, principles of feeding and computation of rations, 

 and the details as to the rations fed by 105 dairymen in Pennsylvania. 

 The data for the latter were secured from replies to a circular letter 

 requesting the dairymen of the State to give the weights of the different 

 foods they were feeding. From these replies, calculations were made of 

 the digestible constituents of each of the rations. 



"There is a very wide variation in the different rations, which indicates that the 

 matter of feeding dairy cattle has not received the thought and study to which it is 

 entitled. About 25 per cent of the rations are, however, compounded in a very 

 practical and scientific manner. 



Summary of rations fed by 105 dairymen in Pennsylvania. 



