428 



Feeds and Feeding. 



The crop was harvested the first week in September, when the ears 

 were beginning to glaze. The corn from twelve acres was run 

 through the feed-cutter and placed in a silo, 11.25 tons being the 

 average yield of green forage per acre. The crop of three acrea 

 was harvested by cutting and shocking in the usual manner. 

 After curing for one month the forage was stored in the barn, the 

 average yield being 4.1 tons of dry fodder per acre. The cost of 

 placing the crop in the silo was $11.22 per acre. (400) The cost 

 for cutting, shocking, storing the fodder and running it through 

 the feed-cutter was $10.31 per acre. 



The total losses in dry matter were assumed to be practically 

 equal for the two methods. The changes in the fodder were found 

 to be an increase in crude fiber and a decrease in protein, ash and 

 nitrogen-free extract. The changes in the silo resulted in the 

 conversion of about two-thirds of the albuminoids into amides. 

 (385-7) Two lots of four cows each were fed silage and fodder 

 respectively, the feeds for the lots being reversed at the close of 

 the first period in order that both lots might be tested upon the 

 same feed. The rations were so compounded that the fodder or 

 silage furnished at least one-half the total dry matter and two- 

 thirds the digestible carbohydrates. The silage was eaten with- 

 out waste, while a portion of the fodder was left uneaten. Both 

 lots of cows gained in weight during the trial. The production 

 of milk and fat is shown in the following table: 



Feeding silage and dry forage to dairy coxes — New Jersey Station, 



Silage 



Dry fodder ration 



Gain from silage 



Per cent, of increase., 



No. of 

 days 



Total 

 yield of 

 mUk, 



Lbs. 



2,276.2 

 2,017 

 258.3 

 12.8 



Av. 



yield 

 per day 

 per cow 



Lbs. 



23.7 

 21.0 



2.7 



Av. per 



cent, of 



fat. 



3.78 

 3.86 

 -0.08 



Total 



yield of 



fat. 



Lbs. 



86.15 

 78.02 

 8.13 

 10.4 



Av. fat 

 per day 

 per (;ow 



Lbs. 



.897 

 .813 

 .084 



It will be seen that the silage ration produced 12.8 per cent 

 more milk and 10.4 per cent, more fat than did the dry forage. 



656. Rape for milch cows. — At the Ontario Agricultural Col- 

 lege, 1 Shaw investigated the value of rape for milch cows. Four 



» Kept. 1892. 



