1476 



CATTLE 



months from April i, 1914 to March 31, 1915. As in previous years each 

 herd has been visited fortnightly by the Recorder for the purpose of 

 weighing, sampling aud testing the morning and evening milk of each 

 individual cow. At each visit he has ascertained also the amount and na- 

 ttire of the food consumed by the cows and has obtained from the farmer 

 particulars as to the breed, age etc. of each cow. During the year 291 

 cows were tested, but for only 144 of these have complete records for the 

 twelve months been obtained. The climatic conditions have a conside- 

 rable influence both on the grazing and on the hay crop ; and therefore 

 also on the cost of the food consumed ; accordingly the meteorological 

 data for the five summer month>>3 are given. The great variations of tempe- 

 rature in May, and the unusually severe night frosts checked the growth 

 of grass to such an extent that the pastures were bare until late in thesum- 

 er and the hay crop distinctly light. 



The report deals first with yield of milk then with the nature and amo\mt 

 of feeding (including cost) and finally with the percentage of fat in the 

 milk. 



The data for 1914-1915 are compared with those of the preceding 

 years, the cove's being di\'ided into eight classes according to their yield as 

 follow? : 



Table I. 



Number of cows giving milk yield (gallons) for 12 months 



400 



, j 401—500 . 501—600 I 601—700 1 701-800 801-900 jgoi-ioooj 



1914-1915 



1913-1914. 



1912-1913 



1911-1912. . . . . . 



Total 4 Years . 



40 



Great differences are again noticeable between the average yields of 

 the various herds and still more between the records of the individual cow 

 within each herd. The maximum average yield per head was 935 gallons, 

 the minimum 472 gallons. 



The average weights of food consumed and the duration of the pas- 

 turage per head in 1914-1915 and 1913-T4 were as follows : 



Although the mean consumption per annum was almost the same 

 in the two years, close examination of the figures given in the original shows 

 that the system of feeding has differed greatly as between the various herds. 

 In view of these differences the amount of digestible proteins, and the 

 starch equivalent of the food actual^ fed per day were compared with the 



