The Dairy Cow — Scientific Findings. 411 



*' We have found that our cows which averaged 898 pounds in 

 weight drank each month 1, 660 pounds of water, and their food 

 contained in addition 775 pounds, or a total of 2^435 pounds of 

 water for a milk yield of 529 pounds, an average of 4.6 pounds 

 of water for one pound of milk. These same cows while dry- 

 drank each month 1,054 pounds of water, and there were 532 

 pounds in their food, an aggregate of 1,586 pounds, or 65.1 per 

 cent, of the amount they had during lactation." 



627. Warm versus cold water. — At the Wisconsin Station, ^ 

 King conducted two trials where water warmed to a temperature 

 of 70° Fahr. was supplied to one lot of cows in opposition to 

 water at a temperature of 32° given a second lot. In the first trial 

 the cows receiving the warm water gave 6 per cent, more milk 

 than those getting cold water, while in the second trial there is a 

 difference of only one per cent, in favor of the warmer water. 

 The cows given the warm water drank from 8 to 10 pounds more 

 daily than those supplied cold water. 



At the Indiana Station, 2 Wolf found that when the temper- 

 ature of the water supplied was reduced from 79° to 38° Fahr., 

 the cows fell off 8 per cent, in milk yield. 



628. Drinking at will. — Backhaus^ reports trials with cows 

 kept in an ordinary stable where water was given them twice 

 daily; they were then changed to stalls having troughs with a 

 constant water supply in each manger. Under this change the 

 milk yield increased on an average about one pound per cow daily, 

 there being no decrease in the fat content. The increased yield 

 due to a constant supply of water was estimated at 225 pounds 

 of milk per cow annually. (710) 



629. Salt for milch cows, * — Three cows were fed from June 20 

 to July 15 without an allowance of salt; the milk yielded from 

 July 4 to 18 amounted to 454 pounds. From July 18 to August 1, 

 4 ounces of salt were given daily to each cow, and the yield of 

 milk during this time was 564 pounds, an increase of 110 pounds. 



630. Value of shelter. — At the Indiana Station, « Plumb tested 

 the value of shelter with six grade cows divided into two lots of 



1 Repte. 1889-90. » Bui. 24. « Milch Zeit, 1892, pp. 609-12. 

 * Loc. cit., 1895, p. 186. « Bui. 47. 



