696 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



I >ini liij: the Becond lactation period of the experiment, or the first period al the 

 university, the cows were fed as much nutritious and easily digestible food rich in 

 protein as they would readily eat. no attention being paid to the economy of produc- 

 tion. During the following period at the university the cows were given similar 

 foods, but were fed with an idea of producing milk economically. Records of the 

 individual cows are summarized and photographs taken in different years are 

 reproduced. 



The following table gives the fat content of the milk of the 7 cows remaining in 

 the experiment until the end, the firs! and fourth periods under adverse conditions 

 on the farm being averaged and compared with the average of the second and third 

 periods of liberal feeding at the university: 



Fat content of the milk of cows insufficiently and liberally fed. 



Each cow , without exception, gave richer milk on liberal rations, the percentage 

 of fat being increased nearly 6 per cent. So far as this experiment goes, it is believed 

 to show, therefore, that the percentage of fat in milk can be increased by more and 

 letter food. By reference to the fuller data it is pointed out that the greatest increase 

 in fat was during the second period, and that in the third period there was a marked 

 reduction and in the fourth it was even lower than the first period. Comparing the 

 fourth with the first, the average decrease in the percentage of fat for the 7 cows 

 taken to the university was 0.03 per cent, while the average decrease for 5 cows 

 which had remained continuously on the farm was 0.13 per cent. 



While incidental to the main purpose of the experiments, it was ascertained that 

 the total increased production of milk and fat due to liberal feeding amounted to 

 about 50 per cent, and that this was secured economically so far as the cost of the 

 food was concerned. 



Investigations on the influence of food fat and some other food constitu- 

 ents upon milk production, A. Morgex, C. Berger, G. Fixgerlixg et al. (Landw. 

 Vers. Sot., 61 [1904), Wo. 1-4- pp. 1-884). — This is a detailed report of investigations 

 with sheep and goats begun in 1900 and continued for 4 years. In the introduction 

 some of the more recent literature is reviewed, and at the conclusion is a note stating 

 that the experiments in a somewhat modified form are being continued. 



The experiments with sheep included 2, 2, 7, and 5 animals in successive years, and 

 those with goats 1. 1. ami 3 animals. The leading idea in the experiments was to 

 compare a ration nearly free from fat with one rich in fat. as it was believed that in 

 this way any influence of fat would be more certainly manifested than by the com- 

 parison of a normal ration with one made excessively rich in fat, as many other inves- 

 tigators have done. In some instances a ration was used which contained as small an 

 amount of digestible fat as 0.05 gm. per kilogram live weight, or 3 to 4 gm. per head 

 dailv. 



