512 



IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



SUMMARY OF RESULTS SECURED. 



The results secured are summarized in Table I, where the average yield, 

 cost per ton, and other production data for the crops used are given. 



In connection with the summary of the soiling system practiced at the 

 Iowa State College dairy farm it will be convenient also to discuss the 

 pasture which was available for the milking herd. The pasture land is roll- 

 ing and gravelly and was at one time poor but by liberal manuring and 

 supplementing with soiling crops it has been converted into a com- 

 paratively good pasture. On this twenty acre pasture, supplemented with 

 soiling, have been supported an average of more than 40 cows each season. 



TABLE II— AREAS USED FOR PASTURE AND SOILING. 



The amount of soiling used depended to a considerable extent on the 

 season and the amount of land available for this purpose, but on the aver- 

 age it amounted to about 12 acres. These factors along with the lengths 

 of the pasturing and soiling seasons determined the cost of keeping the 

 herd during the summer. The average acreage of soiling and pasture 

 combined required to support a cow for the summer months was eight- 

 tenths of an acre per season. The average cost of this was $8.60 per cow 

 per season, of which $5.30 was due to soiling and ?3.30 to pasture. If the 

 cows had been supported on pasture alone, from two to three acres per cow 

 would have been required with a subsequent cost of $12 to $18 per cow 

 per year. This is a saving which is decidedly in favor of soiling, and in 

 addition to this, increased milk production results from its use. 



POSSIBLE OUTLINES OF SUITABLE SYSTEMS OF SOILING. 



A few possibilities of crop combinations may be suggested and they can 

 easily be modified to meet individual conditions: 



