276 EXPEEIMENT STATIOISr EECORD. 



The authors present 'data on the comparative efficiency for milk production of 

 the proteins of mllli, corn, and the wheat grain. 



It was found that " on a nutritive ratio of 1:8, equivalent to about 7 per 

 cent of digestible protein and 9 to 10 per cent of total protein, positive nitrogen 

 balances were maintained with milk proteins for the production of as high as 

 35 lbs. of milk per day, but negative balances resulted when the proteins were 

 derived from the corn or wheat grain. During the negative nitrogen balances 

 increased tissue autolysis resulted, and for a brief time at least there was no 

 decrease in the milk protein or milk solids elaborated. 



"The results indicate clearly that the quality of the proteins is an im- 

 portant factor in maintenance and production, and that the synthetic powers 

 of the mammary gland will not compensate for deficiencies in protein struc- 

 ture. The fact that negative balances were observed on the 1 : 8 nutritive ratio 

 of corn or wheat proteins explains the results of experience which has wisely 

 dictated a narrow nutritive ratio for milk production. The narrow ratio, of 

 course, may not be so necessary when we learn with what efficiency the commer- 

 cial protein concentrates may supplement a basal group of proteins like those of 

 corn, oats, wheat, alfalfa, etc. . . . 



" Milk proteins had an efficiency for milk production and tissue restoration 

 of about 60 per cent, while the corn and wheat grain proteins showed an effi- 

 ciency of 40 and 36 per cent, resi>eetively. The.se results were obtained under 

 experimental conditions requiring a roughage of low nitrogen content." 



The cost of milk production, H. A. Hopper and F. E. Robertson [Neiv York 

 Cornell ^ta. Bui. 357 {1915), pp. 135-162, figs. 6).— From a study made of the 

 costs incident to milk production for 834 dairy cows with full year's records 

 in 53 dairy herds in Jefferson County, N. Y., it was found that 7 of the 53 

 herds, comprising 97 cows, were kept at a loss of $1,335.71. On the basis of 

 net cost and actual receipts, 161 cows, or 19 per cent of the total number, 

 caused a loss to their owners of $1,799.87, or $11.18 per cow. The average 

 production was 6,621 lbs. of milk and 241 lbs. of milk fat. The milk was 

 produced at a net cost of 1.21 cts., and the milk fat at 33.3 cts. per pound. 

 The average selling price of the milk was 1.52 cts. per pound, and the net 

 profit per cow was $20.39. The net cost per cow was $80.24 and the receipts 

 were $100.63. The average cost of feed per cow was $51.57, and the labor cost 

 $23.12. The average cost of delivering 100 lbs. of milk 2.14 miles was 11.7 cts. 

 The profit from cows yielding 10,000 lbs. of milk a year was 51 per cent greater 

 than from those yielding 6,000 lbs. 



[Second and third reports] on the cost of food in the production of milk 

 in the counties of Kent and Surrey (Jour. Southeast. Agr. Col. Wye, No. 22 

 {.1913), pp. 19-160). — The work noted in the second report, by G. H. Garrad 

 and J. Mackintosh, is similar to that previously reported (E. S. R., 25, p. 679). 

 In the third report, by G. H. Garrad, extensive data are given on the cost of 

 feed in the production of milk in England — about 6^d. (15.8 cts.) i>er gallon, 

 exclusive of labor and other charges. 



It is suggested that cows should be fed according to the yield of milk they 

 give. If they are already getting a liberal feed, it is not possible to increase 

 materially the yield of milk by extra feeding, at least not sufficiently to pay for 

 the increased cost of feed. The records show that the cost of feed per gallon of 

 milk is much lower for a 4 or 5 gal. cow than it is for a 2 or 3 gal. cow, the 

 reason assigned being that the maintenance ration required for either cow is 

 practically the same, while the feed required for the higher-producing cow is 

 not proportionately higher in cost. 



