110(3 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



" (9) The ultimate effect of a given food supply upon the milk flow is doubtless the 

 more or less composite result of several coincidently active factors, including, primar- 

 ily changes in the amounts of digestible nutrients taken as a whole; secondarily, 

 changes in the amounts of digestible protein, and, probably, modifications in the 

 proportions of digestible nutrients consumed in concentrates and in roughage. 



"The writer's study of these data leads him to the conclusion that as a whole they 

 do not support the doctrine which lays extreme stress on the paramountcy of pro- 

 tein ; that they indicate that a ration with a nutritive ratio wider than 1:6, perhaps as 

 wide as l:7,^or, indeed, in some eases one slightly wider, may prove economically as 

 effective as the traditional 1:5.4; that a sufficiency of nutrients, affording enough 

 available energy for bodily needs, if carrying a fair amount of digestible protein, not 

 necessarily as much as 2.5 pounds, may prove economically as serviceable as does a 

 richer ration." 



Feeding- trials with cows, J. L. Hills ( Vermont Sta. Ept. 1905, pp. 377-404, 428- 

 462). — In the feeding experiments conducted during the year on the same general 

 plan as in previous years (E. S. R., 17, p. 284) tests were made of India wheat meal, 

 hominy feed, cotton-seed meal, and linseed meal, and further data were secured on 

 the extent of experimental error in feeding trials. The experiments included 42 cows 

 and covered a period of 25 weeks. 



" India wheat meal, used in medium to small amounts, seemed a fair substitute, 

 pound for pound, for wheat bran, and nearly so for a mixture of equal parts of cotton- 

 seed and linseed meals, an outcome which its analysis would not have led one to 

 expect and which has been confirmed by the concordant results of two seasons' trials. 



" Hominy feed proved superior as a milk maker to a rather inferior grade of wheat 

 bran, but did not appear to be the equal of cotton-seed and linseed meals, nor was it 

 as economical a concentrate to use. This outcome has, likewise, the coincident testi- 

 mony of two years* trials to back it. 



" Cotton-seed meal, as compared with linseed meal, seemed to possess a small though 

 measurable advantage as a milk and butter making by-product; and since it cost less 

 and carried a greater plant-food content, it proved economically preferable." 



When 6 to 8 animals are fed by the alternation system, it is believed that the 

 experimental error may be held to be a negligible quantity. 



A comparison of feeding trial methods, J. L. Hills ( Vermont Sta. Rpt. 1905, 

 pp. 405-412) . — The results obtained during the year agreed with those previously 

 reported, showing, in the opinion of the author, that the simple alternation system 

 of conducting feeding trials is preferable to the combined method, but that the testi- 

 mony of both is better than that of either alone. 



Influence of sesame feeding- on the yield of milk and the quality of milk, 

 butter, and cheese, Moser, Peter, and Kappeli (Jahresber. Molk. Schule R'utti- 

 Zollikofen, 18 {1904-5), Beilage; abs. in Milchw. Zentbl, 2 (1906), No. 5, pp. 229-232).— 

 Sesame meal to the extent of 1 kg. per head daily produced a satisfactory increase in 

 the yield of milk, but when increased to 1J kg. was relatively less satisfactory. 



The fat content of the milk showed no marked variations due to the feeding. 

 The cheese was apparently unfavorably influenced by the larger quantities of sesame 

 meal fed. The butter was regularly of good quality, although the opinions of 

 the experts were not unanimous as regards the influence of this material oil the 

 quality of butter. In any case the influence on the butter was very small. With 

 reference, therefore, to cheese making it is recommended that the quantity of sesame 

 meal be limited to 1 kg. per head daily. 



Influence on the fat content of milk of palm-nut cake as compared with, 

 rape-seed cake and peanut cake, T. vox Szankowski (Inaug. Diss., Univ. Halle, 

 1905; abs. in Milchw. Zentbl., 2 (1906), No. 5, p. 232).— The author concludes that the 

 palm-nut cake rich in fat exerts a favorable influence on the fat content of milk, the 



