223 



Series -2: With three eows, tVom ()ct()l)er 1, 188(J. to April '24, 1887. 



Series 8: A\'ith six (-(nvs. from .lanuai'v 8. 1888, to May 15. 1888. 



Series 4: ^^'ith nine cows, from Noxcmlx-r 1, 18S8. to May 21. 188!). 



The fcrdiiia' stull's ust'il \\-ere corn meal, wheat bran, gluten meal, 

 rye mi(i(llin«i-s. fodder corn. Eniili^h hay, rowen, corn stover, corn 

 -■ihii>e. su<:'ai'-l)i'cts. and carrots. l)iii'ini>" the first series corn meal and 

 wheat bi-an or wheat bran alone served as the ^rain i-ation; in the 

 other series, as a rule, corn meal, wheat bran, and uluten mead were 

 fed. The dady rations fed. includinu' roiirteen nuxtures of the above- 

 mentioned feedina' stull's. toa'ether with their total and net cost, nutri- 

 tive ratios, and manui"ial values, are a'iven. 



Xct cost of fecd'nKj xfiiffx. — This is estimated by subtracting the 

 value of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the manure 

 obtainable from particular feeding stuff's from the market value of the 

 same feeding stuff's. It should be remembered in this connection that 

 the prices of corn meal, wheat bran, oil cakes, gluten meal, and similar 

 by-products are much more variable than those of the coarser fodders, 

 such as English hay, corn stover, and coi'u silage. This makes it 

 necessary for farmers to carefully consider what kinds of fodder they 

 will use fiom time to time and to make such changes as are advised 

 by the ridatixe net cost of A'arious feeding stuff's. The following 

 table gives the average valuations at the Station of the feeding stuff'< 

 used in the experiments summarized in this bulletin (1885-80) : 



Fodder articles )ised during our feeding experiments {ISsr, to 1SS9). 



Name of article. 



English hay 



Rowen (dry I 



Fodder corn i dry I 

 Corn stover (dry) 



Corn silage 



Cora meal 



Wheat bran 



Gluten meal 



Xi'tritire rahie of feeding shelf s. — While the financial value of feed- 

 ing stuffs is regulated by the general law of supply and demand, their 

 feeding value de])ends on varying conditions, often more or less be- 

 yond our control. These relate to the composition of the feeding 

 stuff's liiid the proportions in wliich they are combined in the rations, 

 and to the condition and age of the animals fed. In seeking an eco- 

 nomical diet for live stock " both the net cost of the feed and its rela- 

 tive nutritive or feeding eff'ect under existing circumstances "' have to 

 be taken into account. 



The ecououiy of milk iintduction in particular has received much jittention. 

 European inve.'^tigutors recouniieiid in this conneetiou ([ulte geuerally a daily 

 diet, rich in dis<estible nitrogenous constituents, as beneticial to the general 



