DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 281 



"It will be noted that the largest amount of food in the rations is about 4 times 

 that of the smallest. We must admit that there is a large difference between the 

 digestive powers of different cows, but we can not see how 2 cows, each weighing 

 1,000 lbs., would be so widely different in their powers to consume and assimilate food. 



•' As a rule, the rations as used do not contain enough of protein, and I think that 

 the dairymen of the State would do well to use more of the nitrogenous by-products, 

 such as linseed meal, cotton-seed meal, gluten meal, brewers' grains, malt sprouts, 

 tmckwheat middlings, etc., than they have heretofore." 



On the basis of the returns made by tbe dairymen, changes were sug- 

 gested in tlie rations, and a condensed statement is given showing the 

 original and improved rations. It is stated that the a average cow of 

 this State does not pay for the feed she eats," and dairymen are urged 

 to weed out their poor cows by the aid of the scales and the Babcock 

 test. In conclusion a glossary is given of the terms used in feeding. 



Rations for dairy cows and other matters of interest to dairy- 

 men, G. E. Day (Ontario Agr. Col. <<it<l Exptl. Farm Bid. 101, pp. 32). — 

 At the instance of the Ontario Agricultural College and Experimental 

 Union, statistics were collected from about 170 of tbe most successful 

 dairymen in 36 different counties in regard to the feeding and manage- 

 ment of their herds. 



"A wide variation existed [as to the length of time cows remained dry], the 

 shortest time reported being 10 days, while the average for all replies was 57 days. 

 By far the largest number lay between 6 and 12 weeks, and 8 weeks occurred in the 

 reports more than twice as often as any other one time. 



"Sixty-eight out of the 170 dairymen report cows dehorned; and with very few 

 exceptions, they express themselves satisfied with the result. . . . 



"Out of 170 replies, 142 reported horn rlies troublesome, 23 reported them not very 

 troublesome, and 5 reported them not troublesome. . . . 



"Only 1 reply stated that complete soiling was practiced, but 140 out of 170 stated 

 that pasture was supplemented by some kind of green fodders, while 53 stated that 

 meal was fed, either throughout or during some part of the summer. . . . 



"Out of 140 who used green fodders only 11 did not use corn. The most common 

 combination consisted of oats and peas, or oats and tares for summer feeding with 

 corn for autumn. A large number used corn alone, and hence did not commence 

 feeding until late in the season, while the early soiling crops, rye, alfalfa, and 

 clover, were comparatively little used." 



Two methods commonly used in dehorning cows are given and vari- 

 ous remedies and repellants applied against the horn fly. 



The rations fed by 75 dairymen are stated and commented upon and 

 for 31 of the more definite ones the digestible nutrients are calculated. 

 The digestible protein in 21 out of the 31 rations calculated is consid- 

 erably below the German standard or Wolfs American average. The 

 principles of feeding and the compounding of rations are explained, 

 and tables showing the composition of various feeding stuffs are given. 



The value of molasses feed for milch cows, R. Wahl^tist 

 (Nord. Mejerie Tidn., 11 (1896), pp. 317-319).— According to Ekstrand, 1 

 this feed is a mixture of peat dust and beet molasses, in the proportion 

 of 20 to 80. The mixture is dry and keeps well, is easily handled, and 



iK. landt. Akad. Handl. Tidskr., 35 (1896), p. 239. 



