576 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



and cane silages, with a period of 10 days intervening between periods. The 

 cows received a practically constant grain and hay ration in addition to the 

 silage during the experiment. The results obtained were as follows: In lot 1 

 the average production of milk and butter fat proved practically equal for the 

 corn and the cane silage periods, although the increase in body weight favored 

 the cane silage. In lot 2 the butter fat production was the same for both silage 

 feeds, but with the corn silage there was a total increased milk production of 

 76 lbs. over the cane silage, while the cane silage apparently materially in- 

 creased the body weights of the cows. 



During 1912-13, 3 lots of cows were fed in three 30-day periods and under 

 similar conditions as the previous experiment except as to silage feeds. Lot 1 

 alternated on Kafir corn, corn, and Kafir corn silage, and showed a slight ad- 

 vantage of 27 lbs. in total milk yield for the corn silage. The rations were 

 equal as to effect on butter fat production but 21 lbs. greater body weight 

 resulted on the Kafir com silage. Lot 2, alternated on cane, Kafir corn, and 

 cane silages, produced a total increased yield of 231 lbs. milk and 10 lbs. butter 

 fat on the Kafir corn silage, although the cane silage again showed to advantage 

 in body weight. Lot 3, alternated on corn, cane, and corn silages, made 70 lbs. 

 increased milk yield and 1 lb. butter fat in the case of the corn silage, while 

 the body weight remained practically the same. 



It is concluded that these feeds rank in the order of corn silage, Kafir corn 

 silage, and cane silage, as milk producers. The authors suggest that cane silage 

 would show to better advantage where supplemented with more protein and 

 less fat-forming nutrients in the grain ration. 



"During both trials the acidity of the cane silage was never more than that 

 of the corn silage. In the second trial the average acidity for the 3 different 

 kinds of silage was as follows: Corn 2.03, cane 1.46, and Kafir corn 1.43 per 

 cent." It is stated that the quality of silage obtained from all crops was very 

 good; that the cows ate the silage with relish; and that the cane silage seemed 

 most palatable. It is further noted that the cane and Kafir crops should be 

 practically mature before ensiling. 



Milk production, II, J. M. Scott (Florida Sta. Bui. llJf, pp. 61-76, fig. 1). — 

 This is a continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 21, p. 673), and is 

 a report of experiments conducted to determine the values of different Florida- 

 grown feeds for milk production. 



Two lots of 3 cows each were fed in 3 periods of 21 days each, the lots alter- 

 nating and a 7-day period intervening between the feeding periods. A basal 

 ration of wheat bran and sorghum silage was fed, the special feeds under com- 

 parison being velvet beans in the pod and cotton-seed meal, which were fed in 

 quantities containing approximately equivalent amounts of nutrients. On the 

 average, the ration containing 267.75 lbs. of velvet beans produced 934.6 lbs. 

 milk, and that containing 94.5 lbs. cotton-seed meal produced 937.1 lbs. It is 

 estimated that 2.63 lbs. of velvet beans is equivalent to 1 lb. cotton-seed meal. 

 During these tests the body weights of the cows remained about the same. It 

 is estimated that the velvet bean ration produced milk costing 13.3 cts. per 

 gallon, while the cotton-seed meal ration cost 13.7 cts. per gallon. 



In another experiment 2 lots of 3 cows each were fed in 4 periods of 16 

 days each, lots alternating and a 5-day period intervening between feeding 

 periods. The rations fed in this test were similar to those in the first experi- 

 ment except as to quantity Sff feed. The cotton-seed meal daily allowance was 

 Increased from 1.5 to 3 lbs., and less silage was given the velvet bean fed lot 

 than that on cotton-seed meal. In this test, the use of 816 lbs. of velvet beans in 

 the pod produced practically the same quantity of milk as 576 lbs. of cotton- 

 seed meal. The cost per gallon of milk with the velvet bean ration was 12.7 cts., 



