362 



BOARD OF AGRICULTUEE. 



Summary of Observations under Existing Circum- 

 stances. 



1. The cows differed widely in their preference for en- 

 silage. 



2. Reducing the ensilage to the same state of dryness no- 

 ticed in the hay, we find that the total quantity of drij vege- 

 table matter previously consumed has been considerably re- 

 duced, in consequence of the introduction of the ensilage. 

 This is more apparent in Nos. II. and III., than in No. I. 



3. The quantity of milk has, in every instance, increased, 

 in consequence of the addition of ensilage to our customary 

 mode of feeding^ counting the amount of dry vegetable mat- 

 ter, in each case, pound for pound with the milk produced. 



4. The increase in quantity of milk, counting on the basis 

 of the total ai:yount of fodder consumed, was most pro- 

 nounced in case of moderate quantities of ensilage, i. e., 

 from thirty-five to forty pounds per day. 



5. The addition of a liberal amount of wheat shorts (bran) 

 to the daily diet (9th of June), has, in most instances, but 

 slightly affected the absolute yield of milk for the better ; 

 and has at no time changed the relative proportions between 

 dry vegetable matter and the yield of milk, in favor of the 

 former, as compared with the feeding of corn ensilage alone 

 as an essential additional constituent of the original daily 

 diet. The main benefit derived from the addition of wheat 

 shorts to the daily fodder rations, consisted, evidently, in 

 the improved appearance of the cows, in the improvement 

 of the milk, and in an increased value of the manure re- 

 sulting. 



