DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 



481 



"The records show that under the systeiu (if feeding it required from 8 to 9.G lb«. 

 of dry matter over and above that calculated for food of maintenance to produce a 

 pound of l)utter by cows under normal conditions, Vjut this might be materially 

 reduced if the ration ccmtained more grain and less roughage and the nutrients were 

 adjusted to the exact requirements of the cow." 



Comparing the cost of hutter and meat lyroduction (pp. 482-495). —An 

 account is given of an experiment conducted with 4 steers and 4 cows 

 during the winter of 1896-97 to compare the cost of butter and meat 

 production. The test covered 2 periods of 5 weeks each. The results 

 are discussed at some length and summarized as follows: 



" (1) With 100 lbs. of grain and an equal amount of hay and roots 4 steers made a 

 gain of 24.19 lbs., and 4 cows with the same amount and kind of feed produced 

 12.04 lbs. of butter. 



" (2) The 4 steers consumed feed valued at $8.51, gained 424 lbs., being an average 

 daily gain of 2.52 lbs., costing 2 cts. per pound and returning a ])Ound gain for 8.2 lbs. 

 of dry matter consumed. 



" (3) The 4 cows consmned feed valued at $11.84, yielded 255.42 11 is. butter fat, 

 being a butter equivalent of 297.99 lbs. at a cost for feed of 3.97 cts. ])er pound, pro- 

 ducing a pound of butter to 16.28 lbs. of dry matter consumed. 



" (4) Type has not so much significance with a steer as it has with a dairy cow for 

 the reason that a steer not of good type may be a large feeder and a good digester and 

 convert all the food taken over his needs for maintenance into gain, while a cow not 

 of the dairy type has the alternative of converting food either into milk or gain, and 

 she may choose the latter at a time when the owner wants only the former. 



"(5) Any sudden change in feeding or handling may cause a loss in weight or 

 shrinkage in yield of milk and butter fat." 



Variation injioin and 2Jerce7itage of fat in mill' (pp. 496-516). — Tables 

 show the daily and weekly variations in the yield and fat content of the 

 milk of one cow during the first 4 weeks of lactation. Results for 4 

 years are summarized as regards the efi^ect on the yield and fat content 

 of milk due to changing from dry feed to pasture. The following 

 table gives the data for the dairy herd for 4 years during the 8 weeks 

 preceding and the 8 weeks following a change from stable to pasture, 

 the 8 weeks in each case being divided into 4 equal periods: 



Average record of dairy herd for 4 years before and after turning out to 'pasture. 



Total 



yield of 



milk. 



.\verage 

 fat con- 

 tent of 

 milk. 



Total 



yield of 



fat. 



On dry feed: 

 Period 1 

 Period 2 

 Period 3 

 Period 4 



On pasture: 

 Period 1 

 Period 2 

 Period 3 

 Period 4 



Pounds. 

 14,463.4 

 14,047.7 

 13, 692. 9 

 13, 669. 



14. 635. 2 

 1.5,219.4 



14. 710. 3 

 13, 524. 5 



Per cent. 

 4.11 

 4.23 

 4.29 

 4.15 



4.27 

 4.06 

 3.96 

 4.11 



Pounds. 

 594. 80 

 594. (iO 

 587. 63 

 566. 77 



624.64 

 618. 62 

 583.20 

 555. 26 



Dairy value of pea-vine silage compared v^ith that of June pas- 

 ture, A. T. Neale {Vdairarr Sta. UkI. .^6', j/p. 9-lS). — During the 



