10 April, 1916.] 



Hand Feeding Dairy Cows. 



195 



At the writer's suggestion, the ration was changed to 



Ration II. 

 10 lbs. chaff, at £3 10s. per ton ... 

 3^ lbs. crushed oata, at 2s. 8d. per bushel 

 2| lbs. bran, at £4 10s. per ton ... 

 1 lb. pollard, at £7 per ton 

 1 lb. linseed oil cake, at £10 per ton 



18 lbs 



3|d. 

 2|d. 



2d. 



Id. 



9Ad. 



The indications which suggested the change were : — 



(1) Gradual decrease in milk yield of heaviest milkers. 



(2) LfOss of condition of cows. 



(3) An examination of the feed showed that, after due allowance 



was made for the grass consumed, it contained less nutri- 

 ment than the milk, plus that required for the maintenance 

 of the animal ; consequently, both the milk yield and 

 condition of the oows was rapidly decreasing. 



The milk yield was as follows: — 



The milk yield had been gradually decreasing on ration No. I.; by 

 increasing the feed, not only was this checked, but turned into an 

 increase of 35 lbs. of fat, at Is. 2d., £2 Os. lOd. ; the increased cost of 

 food was 10s. ; leaving a net profit of £1 10s. ; and, in addition to 

 70 gallons of skim milk and an extension of the milking season, the loss 

 of condition was arrested. 



The increase is greater than the figures indicat-e, because four of 

 the cows were well advanced in their lactation periods, and heavy in calf. 



No. 5 did not pay for tlie extra food, which was stopped. 



The profit depended on two factors: — 



(1) The cows were not getting all the food which they could 



profitably transform into milk, and the addition of any 

 nitrogenous foods was rapidly followed by an increase. 



(2) An increase of the protein content of the ration by one-third 



without materially increasing the coat. 



