DAIRY FARMING — DAIRYING. 671 



These experiments, together with those summarized from other stations, are 

 talien to indicate that sugar beets and mangels tend to increase the flow of milk, 

 and that the increase is due to the stimulating effect on the appetite, causing 

 a larger consumption of food. In some cases the cows made greater gains in 

 body weight while consuming beets, and in other cases greater gains while con- 

 suming silage. It appears that there is little difference in the value of an equal 

 amount of dry mutter in each. Because of the greater cost of beets, it is not 

 deemed wise to attempt to substitute them for silage except where maximum 

 production of milk is desired, or where the number of cows is too small to per- 

 mit the use of a silo. 



Influence of beet feeding on the milk, J. Rolle (Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr, 

 u. Gemissmtl., 30 (1915), No. 10, pp. 361, 362).— It is stated that ordinary beets 

 contain from 1.4 to 6.7 per cent of betain, and sugar beets from 0.1 to 0.3 per 

 cent. This is said to cause the bitter flavor in milk produced from cows fed on 

 beets. The Streptococcus lactis bacteria in the milk afl:ect the betain, which de- 

 velops a lactic acid betain with the elimination of carbonic acid and ammonia. 

 It is this lactic acid betain which gives the milk its characteristic odor. 



Soiling V. silage as a supplement for Nebraska pastures, J. H. Fbandsen 

 {Ann. Rpt. Nebr. Corn Improvers' Assoc, 6 {1915), pp. 31-^6, figs. 3).— The 

 author outlines a plan for soiling crops on a basis of ten cows. The advantages 

 and disadvantages of soiling are enumerated and compared with those of si- 

 lage. It is concluded that while the soiling system has some advantages over 

 silage, it is not entirely feasible to adopt it exclusively, and a combination of the 

 two systems is suggested. 



The feeding of molasses feed to dairy cattle, J. J. O. de Veies {Verslag 

 Ver. Exploit. Proejzuivelhoerderij Hoorn, 1913, pp. 15-33). — An experiment is 

 reported in which molasses was fed to dairy cattle, resulting in a marked in- 

 crease in yield of milk over those fed an ordinary hay ration. The milk was 

 higher in both fat and dry matter content. 



The cost of rearing a dairy cow, J. B. Lindsey {Massachusetts 8ta. Bui. 

 16i (1915), pp. 66-71).— The total food cost of raising 20 dairy heifers, together 

 with data from other sources relative to food and other costs, is given. 



It is concluded that from $75 to $85 represents the total cost of raising the aver- 

 age dairy heifer until she reaches the age of two years. In the averages the 

 initial value of a heifer was placed at $4, the food cost at $57.73, and other 

 costs at $20.51, making a total of $82.24, or when the manure is credited at $8, 

 a total net cost of $74.24. 



Is the ability to produce milk fat transmitted by the dam or by the sireP 

 T. E. Woodward {Hoard's Dairyman, 51 {1916), No. ^, p. 146). — From a study 

 of the Advanced Registry records of the American Guernsey Cattle Club the 

 author found that in 57.3 per cent of the total number of comparisons made the 

 high-producing daughters were from dams with the highest records. It was 

 noted, however, that while there was a difference of 118 lbs. of fat per annum 

 between the high- and low-producing dams, there was a corresponding differ- 

 ence of only 18 lbs. between the daughters. This indicates that the sire also 

 has something to do with the inheritance of jjairy qualities. 



Milk fat as a measure of value of milk, L. L. Van Slyke {Milk Trade 

 Jour., S {1916), Nos. 11, pp. 6, 10; 12, pp. U, 15).— In this article it is shown 

 that the fat and the solids-not-fat do not vary in the same proportion in differ- 

 ent milks, although in general when milk grows richer in fat it also grows 

 richer in skim milk solids. Milk containing 3 per cent of fat contains more 

 solids-not-fat in proportion to fat than do milks containing more than 3 per 

 cent of fat. Generally, 1 lb. of milk fat is worth ten times as much as 1 lb. of 

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