126 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XIX, No. 3 



Figure 8 indicates that cows fed ginger begin to decline in production 

 about the second or third day. 



Table I gives a summary of results, showing the average of the four 

 cows in total milk and total butter fat and the average test as obtained 

 by dividing the fat yield by the milk yield given in the table. 



Table I- — Effect of drugs on milk yield, fat test, and fat yield during 5-day period 



Drugs used. 



Food tonic No. i 



Air-slaked lime 



Fowler's solution of ar- 

 senic , 



Gentian 



German tonic mixture . . . 

 Physostigmine sulphate. . 



Sodium bicarbonate 



Ginger 



Average total milk. 



Control. 



Pounds. 

 92. 2 

 67-3 



107-3 

 II3-5 

 108. S 

 108.7 

 93- I 

 9=-5 



Treated 



Pounds. 

 93-7 

 81.9 



109.0 

 108.2 

 io8.o 

 99.9 

 90.8 

 93-8 



Gain or 

 loss 



Pounds. 



-f- 

 -fi4-6 



4- I 



- 5 



Fat test. 



Control. 



Per ct. 



4-37 



4. 28 



Treated. 



Per ct. 



4-57 

 5.00 



3-86 

 3-98 

 3-73 

 3-6o 

 4-43 

 4.32 



Gain or 

 loss. 



Control. 



Per ct. 



+0. 20 



+ .14 



+ .04 



Average total butter fat. 



Pounds. 

 3-998 

 3-509 



3- 995 



4-459 

 4. 205 

 4. 226 

 4-132 

 3-968 



Treated. 



Pounds. 



4.285 

 4- 095 



4> 210 

 4.302 

 4-049 

 3. 706 

 4- 020 

 4-055 



Gain or 

 loss. 



Pounds. 



+0. 287 

 + -s86 



-I- -215 



- -157 



- -156 



— .520 



— . 112 

 -f -087 



Drugs I, 2, 3, and 8 slightly increased the milk yield, but this increase 

 is insignificant except when air-slaked lime was fed. The increase of 

 21 .7 per cent for the air-slaked lime group we think is significant. Gentian 

 and physostigmine sulphate seem to depress the milk yield, and the Ger- 

 man tonic mixture No. 5, and sodium bicarbonate have but little efiFect. 



The fat test was appreciably increased by tonic No. i , by lime, and by 

 Fowler's solution. There was significant decline in fat test shown by the 

 groups fed the German tonic mixture and physostigmine sulphate. 



Average total butter-fat production was probably significantly in- 

 creased by air-slaked lime. Food tonic No. i and Fowler's solution 

 show increase of 0.28 and 0.21 pound, respectively, in fat for the 5-day 

 period. A decline of 0.52 pound is shown by the physostigmine sul- 

 phate group. The decline in other groups is not considered significant. 



No difficulty was encountered in getting the cows to take any of the 

 drugs, and no effect on their physical condition was observed. 



SUMMARY 



(i) A study of individual records and average records does not indicate 

 that drugs have a very pronounced effect on the production of the dairy 

 cow. 



(2) Air-slaked lime fed in 2-ounce doses daily may possibly increase 

 milk production and total fat yield. 



(3) No other drug or mixture tested proved to be of value to increase 

 production. 



(4) Results do not indicate that the difference in character of milk of 

 Holstein and Guernsey cows has any relation to their manner of reaction 

 to drugs. 



