774 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



There seemed to be no appreciable difference between the silage and root 

 rations as to the amount of hay eaten. Each group and each individual cow 

 produced more milk from the root ration, but the difference was not very great, 

 averaging 0.7 lb. per day per cow. While the number of cows was small and 

 the test covered but one season, it is believed that the ligures would seem 

 to warrant the conclusion that the roots are at least as good as the corn silage. 

 Data on the cost of growing and handling these crops seem to indicate very little 

 difference in that respect, local conditions influencing the cost greatly. 



Experiments in feeding' dairy cows {New Mexico Sta. Rpt. 1913, pp. 66-69). — 

 In an experiment with two lots of dairy cows, fed for 30-duy periods, in which 

 one lot received a ration consisting of 30 lbs. of corn silage, 1 lb. of concentrate 

 to each 5 lbs. of milk, and all the choice alfalfa hay they would eat, and the 

 other lot the same feed with the exception of the corn silage, for which 8 lbs. 

 of dried beet pulp was substituted, a 10.6 per cent larger yield of milk and milk 

 fat was obtained from the lots fed dried beet pulp. However, the milk cost 28 

 per cent more and the fat 33 i per cent more. 



Dairy herd records, their value, and how to keep them, A. B. Nystbom 

 and It. E. Huxdertmaek (Washinytoti Sta. Popular Bui. 97 (1915), pp. 3-16, 

 fiys. 6). — General information on liow to keep records, and the value of such 

 records in increasing dairy profits, is given. 



Report of the department of dairy husbandry, O. F. IIunzikeb (Indiana 

 Sta. lipt. 1915, pp. 3.'f-Ji5). — In continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 

 32, p. 672) a calf-feeding experiment was carrietl on in which one lot received 

 whole milk, skim milk, ground corn and oats as a dry mash, alfalfa hay, and 

 corn silage, and another lot a home-mixed calf meal containing hominy feed, 

 linseed meal, red dog flour, and dried blood, equal parts by weight, in place of 

 the skim milk. The following conclusions are drawn : 



" The use of skim milk as a feed for young calves is increasing in those sec- 

 tions wliore it is available in large quantities. Its use for this purpose should 

 be encouraged unless its market value is very nmch above 30 cts. per 100 lbs. 

 So long as skim milk is available as a feed for live stock, milk substitutes for 

 dairy calves are of very limited value. 



" In certain sections of the State the chief product sold from the farm is 

 whole milk. Under these conditions the growing of dairy heifers becomes a 

 very expensive proposition luiless a milk substitute may be secured, making it 

 possible to reduce the amount of milk required for calf feeding to the mininimu. 

 Under such conditions the use of a home-mixed calf meal is advisable, although 

 the calf so produced will not be as well developed at six months of age as if fed 

 milk during its early growing period. 



" The prices charged by concerns manufacturing calf meals are iisually very 

 nmch above the actual cost of producing them, chiefly on account of advertising 

 costs, transportation charges, and dealers' profits. All things being equal, so far 

 as the efficiency of the ration is concerned the use of a ready-prepared calf 

 meal is largely prohibitive on account of the high retail prices of such feeds. 



" The results, from the standpoint of gain in weight and growth in height, 

 produced by feeding Blatchford's calf meal do not warrant its recommendation 

 as an absolute milk substitute for the growing of dairy calves. 



*' In order for a ration to be considere<l an miqualitied success for dairy calves, 

 it should produce at least 1 lb. of gain per day as an average for the first six 

 months of the life of the calf. An average daily gain of 1.5 lbs. is not uncom- 

 mon, although slightly above that which the average dairyman may expect. 



" The amount of grain mixture and dry roughage consumetl by dairy calves 

 is a splendid index to their thriftlness. The development of an appetite for dry 

 feeds by dairy calves is governed by the type of milk or milk substitute ration 



