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Trials of Soya Cake for Milch Cows. 



BY DOUGLAS A. GILCHRIST. 



Trials to test the comparative feeding value of soya and 

 decorticated cotton cakes have been carried out at Newton 

 Bigg, the Cumberland and Westmorland Farm School, under 

 the supervision of the manager, Mr. "W. T. Lawrence. 



Soya cake is produced from soy or soya (soja) beans (from 

 which some of the oil is extracted), which are now being 

 extensively imported from Manchuria to this country. 



Three cows and three heifers after their first calf were set 

 apart on February 6th, 1909, for these trials, which continued 

 for twelve weeks. They were all at an early stage of their 

 lactation period at the commencement, and as the milk natur- 

 ally declined in quantity as the trials progressed it was decided 

 to feed soya cake during the first and last three weeks, and 

 decorticated cotton cake during the middle six weeks. During 

 the first six weeks swedes were used, and during the last six 

 weeks- mangels. 



Each cow received daily: 49 Ib. swedes (or 42 Ib. man- 

 gels), 14 Ib. hay and 7 Ib. oat straw, 4 Ib. crushed oats, and : 



4 Ib. soya cake (for first and last three weeks). 



4 Ib. decorticated cotton cake (for middle six weeks). 



The results were as follow : 



