172 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Individuals differ, and differ so materially that it is impos- 

 sible to give a specific amount. 



Mr. Ellis. We have almost never had a heifer injured 

 hy overfeeding. 



Question. What do your cows average a day per cow, 

 — how many quarts? 



Mr. Ellis. With 6,000 pounds, they would average 

 7.31 quarts per day. Our basis for figuring is not 2% 

 pounds, which is ordinarily taken. Our records show us 

 every day the barn weights of our milk, and we have also 

 the exact measurement ; and our average is just 2^/4 pounds 

 barn weight to the measured quart, and on that l3asis it 

 would give 7.31. 



Question. Will that average for three years? 



Mr. Ellis. It might not for individual cows ; it would 

 for the herd. 



Mr. R. Harrison (of North Adams) . I heard you men- 

 tion contagious abortion. Are 3^ou troubled with it consid- 

 erably? Can a cow overcome this so you can keep her in 

 3^our herd ? 



Mr. Ellis. We have very few cases of a cow aborting 

 the second year. Were I situated like the ordinary farmer, 

 supplying milk to the contractor, so the loss of the product 

 would not inconvenience me, and considering effect on my 

 own herd alone, I would sooner have the foot and mouth 

 disease come into my herd than contagious abortion. It 

 would cost me less money, in the long run. I do not want 

 to belittle the foot and mouth disease, but I do want to 

 emphasize the difficulty with contagious abortion. I had it 

 seven or eight years ago, and it is most serious. 



Mr. Harrison. You have abortion occasionally. What 

 do you lay it to, generally speaking, — to the cow being 

 roughly handled, or what? 



Mr. Ellis. If ouly occasional, it is generally the result 

 of accident, 



Mr. Harrison. How is it with j^ounger cows and older 

 ones, as compared to the number of cases? 



Mr. Ellis. It is about the same proportion. 



Mr. Harrison, What has been your experience with 



