430 Fecda and Feeding. 



658. Feeding potatoes. — According to Cornevin' milcli cows 

 may be maintained exclusively on a ration of potatoes, eating 

 about seven per cent, of their weight daily. Feeding exclu- 

 sively on potatoes increases tlie milk flow, but the cows shrink 

 in weight and take their feed with repugnance if it is continued 

 for any length of time. Steamed potatoes are readily eaten by 

 milch cows, but, if fed exclusively, digestion troubles will soon 

 appear and rumination be disturbed or suspended. I 



In feeding potatoes in connection with other feeds, Cornevin 

 obtained the best results when the potatoes furnished fifty per 

 cent, of the total dry matter of the ration. It was found that raw 

 potatoes favored milk secretion, while steamed potatoes increased 

 the live weight and produced a deposition of fat. (316, 484-6, 

 866, 897) 



III. Miscellaneous Feeding Substances. 



659. Feeding milk and skim milk. — At the Iowa Station, ^ Wil- 

 son fed full milk and afterwards skim milk to dairy cows. The 

 cows shrunk in weight on full milk and gained on skim milk. 

 The results obtained were fairly satisfactory. 



Holdefleisz^ recommends feeding skim milk to cows. He states 

 that they easily digest rations containing five, six or even eight 

 liters (quarts) of skim milk, even if sour; that skim milk has a 

 favorable influence on the production of milk, and that it saves 

 grain. The practice has been followed by a few American dairy- 

 men, who report good results. * (357, 736, 869-71, 8S6-8) 



660. Whey for milch cows. — Schrodt^ fed whey to milch cows 

 at the Kiel Dairy Station. The ration consisted of 11 pounds 

 clover hay, 5.5 pounds barley straw, 10 pounds mangels, 5.5 

 pounds wheat bran and 2.2 pounds palm- nut meal. During one 

 period 11 pounds of sweet whey were fed and during another 22 

 pounds. The whey had a favorable influence on the quantity of 

 milk yielded, and no deleterious elTect on the quality of the but- 

 ter. (359, 873, 887, 889) 



1 .lahresber. Agr. Chemie, 1894, p. 480. * Bui. 17. 



» Allg. Ztg. f. deutsche Landw., Vol. 16, No.7; Buerstenbinder, Jahresb., 

 1886, p. 444. •• Bui. 38, Wis. Expt. Sta. 



« Landw. Wocheubl. f. Bchl. HoL, 1882, p. 237; Jahresber. f. Agr. 

 Chemie, 1SS2, p. 441. 



