194 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 April, 1916. 



value to oats at 2s. Id. per bushel. Gluten meal, or polly meal, at 

 £5 per ton, is equal in value to bran at £4 10s. per ton. The oil 

 cakes, linseed, and cocoanut, cannot be compared satisfactorily with 

 bran, oats, &c., because they differ from them so greatly; but from 

 ^ to 2 lbs. may be added to any ration, according to the season. 



A mixed ration gives a better return than one composed of a single 

 food. The spring grass, on which the cows milk so heavily, includes a 

 large number of varieties, and what is deficient in one is provided by 

 another, and the mixture of grasses provides a large amount of palatable 

 and digestible food substances. 



If more consideration and common sense were given to the feeding 

 of our dairy cows, the fluctuations of the industry caused by seasonal 

 influences would become less, and a more regular, as well as increased, 

 output would result. 



In test, or butte^r-fat percentage, the milk of the Victorian herds 

 is superior to some, and equal to that produced in any dairying country 

 of the world; but in quantity of milk, they are far behind, such being 

 due to a want of the necessary kind and amount of feed which will 

 enable the cows to produce milk to their full capacity for secretion. 



It is a significant fact that, whilst the average yield per cow in 

 Victoria is about 380 gallons, and 160 lbs. fat, during an average 

 season, 227 cows, including heifers, during the past dry year, yielded, 

 in nine months, an average return of 572 gallons, and 292 lbs. fat. 

 This return was taken from fifteen herds, where the milk was weighed 

 daily and tested monthly, and in each case the herds were kept for 

 profit^ — some supplying cream to butter factories. 



One herd of 31 cows averaged 809 gallons of milk, and 383 lbs. fat; 

 another of 64 cows averaged 602 gallons, and 337 lbs. fat; whilst, in one 

 instance, 58 cows averaged 334 gallons, and 144 lbs. fat ; and another 

 of 20 cows averaged 479 gallons, and 202 lbs. fat. These returns show 

 the difference between good and bad feeding. In every case where a 

 high return was secured, a small amount of concentrated feed was given, 

 and in the others, where a low return was obtained, the cows depended on 

 grass and hay only. 



It has been difficult to obtain locally reliable results of feeding 

 various rations, but the following, obtained by a dairy farmer in the 

 north-east of Victoria, is instructive, and proves that, under suitable 

 conditions, it pays to spend a little extra on the cow's feed. It likewise 

 shows that a greater amount of nutriment for conversion into milk can 

 be secured by a careful selection of feeds ; the slightly-increased cost 

 materially increasing the profit. 



The weight of milk yielded by each cow was weighed daily, and each 

 ration was fed for thirty days. 



The paddock fe9d was dry, and no green fodder was available, but each 

 cow was receiving' daily : — 



Ration I. 



9 lbs. chaff, at £3 10s. per ton ... ... 3^d. 



7 lbs. crushed oats, at 2s. 8d. per bushel ... 5|d. 



16 lbs. 9d. 



