54 



EXPEULMExXT STATION. 



Tan. 



Ono Imiidrod pounds of corn contains, therefore, some 16 

 pounds, or 27 per cent., more digestible material than a like 

 amount of oats. 



Kellner ])]aced the net energy value of corn at 81. 5 and of 

 oats at 59.7, or as 100 is to 73.2 (starch equivalents). One 

 would, therefore, assume that for the ordinary purposes of 

 nutrition oats were substantially one-fourth less valuable than 

 corn. This does not take into account the favorable mechanical 

 or special energy effects of oats. The nutritive inferiority of 

 oats is due tx:) the large percentage of indigestible hull. The oat 

 kernel free from hull is easily and highly digestible. 



Feediivo Experiments for Milk Production. 



Three feeding experiments with four cows each were made at 

 this Station. Each animal received a basal ration of hay and 

 bran to which was added an average of 4.5 pounds of corn or 

 oats. A complete summary of the details of the experiment are 

 given in Part I. of our report for 1912. 



It may be said in general that the oat ration gave substan- 

 tially as good results (a) on the weight of the animal, (h) on 

 the amount of milk and butter-fat produced, and (c) on the 

 composition of the milk. 



On the basis of such experiments one would conclude that 

 oats were as desirable as corn for this pui-pose, which would be 

 contrary to the teachings of analysis and digestion tests. It is 

 believed, however, that the experiments- were incorrectly made 

 in that too much of the basal ration was fed, so that when the 

 oats or com were added the total nutrients were fully up to 

 or in excess of the requirements of the animal. Therefore, 

 the particular effect of the corn or oats was not brought out. 



