DAIRY FARMING — DAIRYING. 775 



Effect of alkali water on dairy cows, C. Laksen and D. E. Bailey (South 

 Dakota Sta. Bui. 1^7 {1913), pp. 300-225) .—T\i\^ bulletin is a continuation of 

 Bulletin 132 (E. S. II., 27, p. 2S2) and reports experiments with 3 barren cows 

 which were fed a definite ration of grain and silage, and watered during a pre- 

 liminary 10-day period with normal well water. In the experimental period of 

 10 days cows 1 and 2 received a strong alkali water and cow 3 soft water. 



During the 10-day prellminai-y period the cows consumed on the average 

 27.824 lbs. of minerals. Of this 1.9 per cent was in the water, 69.C per cent in 

 the hay, 10.1 per cent in the grain, 1G.2 per cent in the silage, and 2.2 per cent 

 in the salt. Of all the minerals consumed during this period 9o.7 per cent was 

 recovered, 5.3 per cent being through the milk, 12.8 per cent through the urine, 

 and 75.6 per cent in the feces. 



During the experimental period the cows receiving alkali water consumed 

 an average of 30.7 lbs. minerals, of which Sl.l per cent was recovered, 5.1 per 

 cent being in the milk, 20 per cent in the urine, and 5G per cent in the feces. 

 The cow receiving soft water consumed 24,132 lbs. mineral, of which 82.8 per 

 cent was recovered. 3.9 per cent being in the milk, 13.7 in the urine, and 55.2 

 per cent in the feces. It is noted that " the increase in ash constituents from 

 the alkali water consisted chiefly of sodium, sulphur, chlorin, and calcium. The 

 alkali water contained about 600 times more sodium, about 30 times more sul- 

 phur, about 25 times more chlorin, and about 4 times more calcium than did the 

 normal well water. Potassium, though present only in small quantities, was 

 increased about 15 times over that of the normal well water." 



The percentage intake and outgo of each of the ash constituents on the basis 

 of the total consumed minerals for all cows in all periods is as follows: Sul- 

 phur, intake 3.8 per cent, outgo 3.4 per cent; chlorin, 3.5 and 2.7; phosphorus 

 2.7 and 2.6; calcium 4.6 and 4.6; magnesium 3.3 and 3.2; sodium 3.1 and 2.4; 

 potassium 8.6 and 8.8; and silica 49.4 and 44.3 per cent, respectively. Sodium 

 and chlorin constitute the largest part of the ash of perspiration and therefore 

 the determined outgo contained less of these two. 



On post-mortem, chemical examinations were made of the kidneys and liver. 

 The composition of the organs of all cows was practically the same, and showed 

 nothing abnormal. 



It is concluded from this study that the drinking of alkali water by the cows 

 did not produce what is known as the " alkali disease " or any indication of it. 

 The principal mineral in the alkali water, sodium sulphate, was mostly elimi- 

 nated through the kidneys. " The urine was increased from 114.6 to 151.4 lbs. 

 during the 10-day periods by reason of drinking alkali water. This increase of 

 urine output took place in spite of a decrease of 148 lbs. in the amount of water 

 drunk during the same period. 



" The percentage of ash constituents in the urine is increased by feeding al- 

 kali water to the cows. This together with the other above-mentioned facts 

 indicates that the kidneys of cows drinking alkali water have an increa.sed 

 amount of work to perform." 



The Fribourger black and white cattle and their introduction in the breed- 

 ing of the Netherland Black Spotted breed, P. Muller {Jahrh. Wiss. u. Prakt. 

 Tierzucht, 8 {1913), pp. 1-87. figs. 20).— After describing the climatic conditions 

 of the canton of Fribourg, Switzerland, and commenting on the adaptability of 

 this section to cattle breeding, the author gives the breed characteristics of the 

 Black and White breed of cattle and lists the principal blood lines, showing 

 wherein the crossing of these cattle on the Netherland breeds has resulted in 

 greater milk yield, increased fat content of milk, and improved milking and 

 fleshing qualities. 



