Aug. i6, 19IS Prickly-Pears as a Feed for Dairy Cows 415 



Tables III to VI show in general that prickly-pear produced more 

 milk with a smaller percentage of fat than the other feeds with which it 

 was compared. The total production of milk fat was reduced apprecia- 

 bly by feeding prickly -pear, while the production of milk solids was 

 lowered but slightly. 



In comparing the results of the first year's work, it will be noticed that 

 the heavy prickly-pear ration produced more milk and less fat but the 

 same amount of total solids as the medium prickly-pear ration. It will 

 be seen also that the dry matter digested and the energy values of the 

 feed were greater in the case of the heavy ration. 



It will be observ^ed that the medium prickly-pear ration produced 

 slightly more milk but less fat and total solids than the sorghum-hay 

 group. The cows also consumed more digestible nutrients, and the 

 energy values were greater. While the body weights were not so well 

 controlled as with the preceding groups, it is thought that the error on 

 this account is of no great consequence. 



Cows fed with prickly-pear produced a little more milk but less fat and 

 less other solids than those fed on the sorghum silage. The cows of the 

 sorghum-silage groups ate more digestible dry matter, and the energy 

 value of their feed was greater. 



The results in the test of medium rations of prickly-pear as compared 

 with cottonseed hulls are somewhat different from the preceding. The 

 cottonseed hulls not only produced more fat but also more milk and total 

 solids than prickly-pear. There was more digestible dry matter in the 

 ration of the cottonseed-hulls groups, but a smaller energy value. 



The results as a whole seem to show that a moderate ration of prickly- 

 pear was used more efficiently than a heavy ration. As will be seen later, 

 the digestion of dry matter is lower for the heavy ration, and possibly 

 the cows receiving a large amount of prickly-pear required more food 

 for maintenance, especially in cold weather. 



Ordinarily it would be better to feed a medium rather than a heavy 

 ration of prickly-pear to milking cows because of the greater fat pro- 

 duction and the more sanitary condition of the cows and stable. Prickly- 

 pear in large quantities loosens the bowels, which makes it difficult to keep 

 the cows clean. There are many cases, however, in which a large amount 

 of these cacti might well be fed. If the product is to be disposed of as 

 milk rather than as butter or cream and if supplementary roughages are 

 relatively high in cost, it would be to the advantage of the dairyman to 

 feed a large quantity of prickly-pear, provided extra precautions are 

 taken to keep the cows and the stable clean. The proper amount to feed 

 depends to some extent upon the ability of the individual animal to con- 

 sume large quantities. It is thought that most cows will refuse to eat 

 more than 100 pounds each day when supplemented with grain and a 

 small amount of hav. 



