New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 393 



two parts linseed meal O. P., and one part eacli of wheat middlings 

 and ground oats. 



During November corn silage was fed morning and noon, clover 

 hay at night and the same gi'ain mixture that was fed in October. 



For December it is intended to feed a ration of corn silage fed 

 morning and noon, mixed clover hay fed at night and a grain mix- 

 ture of six parts wheat bran, four parts linseed meal, O. P., and one 

 part ground oats. 



Cows in approximately the same stage of lactation have been fed 

 as nearly alike as possible, but the proportions of the different foods 

 were varied somewhat according to the condition, appetite, and age 

 of the individual. Two of the cows which are subject to a skin 

 disease in hot weather, were fed for grain during the summer 

 months a mixture of wdieat bran and ground oats. For about six 

 weeks or two months before calving, little or no grain has been fed. 

 For about a week, sometimes for several weeks after calving, little 

 grain other than bran and ground oats has been fed. 



Corn Silage for Milch Cows. 



Silage, especially corn silage, has been fed now for so many years 

 by successful farmers, that there is little doubt of this food being 

 used to advantage. Feeding experiments made at different Stations 

 to determine the value of corn silage as compared with dried corn 

 fodder, corn stover, and other foods, especially roots, have shown 

 the silage to be not inferior in feeding value. A majority of the 

 feeding trials have shown a slight advantage in favor of silage over 

 other forms in. which the corn crop is usually fed, and generally 

 greater profit in feeding silage than roots. The many inquiries 

 however, relating to the value of com silage, especially for milch 

 cows, make it desirable to have as" many additional data as possible 

 from which to form opinion. 



The results from a number of feeding periods in different years 

 when corn silage has constituted part of the rations, have been 

 averaged and arranged to show any changes in the yield and compo- 

 sition of milk accompanying changes in the food. Most of these 

 records which follow have been prepared with the expectation of 

 soon issuing them in a bulletin. The results which are reported 

 were obtained from cows in the stage of lactation when a fair flow 

 of milk of normal composition would be expected, and any general 



