382 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD, 



In the authors opinion the coneki.sion .seems warranted that the pos- 

 sible lower production obtained by giving the cows exercise in winter 

 is more than compensated for ])v the favorable influence of this prac- 

 tice on the h(nihh and the hardiness of the cows. — r. w. woll. 



Dairy husbandry, C B. Lane (JVmv Jersey Stas. Ept. 1899, pp. 

 189-196, WJ-:iG9, pi. i, dgm. 1). — Deductions from the results of 

 dairy experiments previously reported (E. S. R. , 11, p. 883) are quoted, 

 and a detailed account is given of dairy work during the j^ear. 



Soiling crop.^ (pp. 192-196). — Tabulated data, including dates of 

 sowing and cutting, yield, and cost of production, are given for a long 

 list of forage crops grown for the dairy herd. Brief notes are also 

 given on the culture and growth of the different crops. 



ExperiinenU icith, different rationa (pp. 202-220). — Seven tests of 14 

 days each and 2 tests of 7 days each were made with 2 cows to study 

 the influence of rations varying widely in character, upon the yield 

 and composition of milk and the economic production of milk and 

 butter. The nine rations compared included the following feeding 

 stuff's in various combinations: Wheat bran, dried brewers' grains, 

 linseed meal, oats, cornstalks, hay, silage, green clover, and sugar 

 beets. The nutritive ratios of the different rations varied from 1:4 to 

 1 : 14. The highest yield of milk and fat was produced on a ration 

 having a nutritive ratio of 1:6,5, and the lowest vield on a ration hav- 

 ing a ratio of 1:14. With one exception, changing from a wide to a 

 naiTower ration increased the 3deld of milk and fat, and changing 

 from a narrow to a wider ration decreased the yield. A diagram shows 

 the jdeld and composition of the milk of the cows on the changing 

 rations as compared with like data for cows in the same stage of lacta- 

 tion fed uniformly during the same period. The fat content of the 

 milk during the different periods ranged from 3.66 to 4.26 per cent. 

 Tabulated data in regard to the economy of milk and butter produc- 

 tion on the different rations show a net gain over cost of food of 32.9 

 per cent greater on well-balanced rations than on poorly balanced 

 rations. The results of the study are summarized as follows: 



" (1) The feeding of irregular rations caufjed a wide variation in tlie yield of milk 

 and fat, and had a tendency to decrease the total yieUl. 



" (2) The feeding of rations varying widely in respect to chai'acter and percentage 

 of coarse foods, and amount of different food compounds and total nutrients fur- 

 nished, had but little influence upon the composition of the milk. 



'' (3) Milk and l)utter were produced more economically from well-balanced 

 rations than from rations containing a sufficient quantity of nutrients, Init not in the 

 proper proportion." 



An experiment with 4 cows comparing a ''good" (balanced) and a 

 "poor" (unbalanced) ration was made in continuation of a similar 

 experiment already reported (E. S. K. , 11, [). 884). The same cows and 

 practically the same rations were used as in the earlicM- experiment. 



