106 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 186. 



6. Comparing these several feeds, however, on the basis of net energy- 

 values, as suggested by Armsby, one finds red clover to have 13 per cent, 

 more energy value, timothy hay and rowen 20 per cent, more, and gluten 

 feed 160 per cent. more. This lessened energy value of the alfalfa has been 

 shown to be due to its causing an increased metabolism in the animal 

 organism. 



7. In case of an average of three experiments (I, II and III) with cows, 

 the dry matter in a ration composed of alfalfa, beet pulp and corn meal 

 produced substantially as large a yield of milk and milk ingredients as 

 did a like amount of dry matter in one composed of first-cut mixed hay, 

 beet pulp and corn gluten products. The alfalfa seemed to act as a slight 

 stimulus to production. In these experiments alfalfa and hay each fur- 

 nished about 71 per cent, of the total dry food of the rations. 



8. The animals showed a total gain in live weight of 13 poimds on the 

 alfalfa ration, and 481 pounds on the hay ration, indicating that the less 

 energy value of the alfalfa might have been responsible for this difference. 



9. The protein contained in the alfalfa, beet pulp and corn meal ration, 

 of which 78.2 per cent, was from alfalfa, seemed to be fully as effective in 

 the formation of normal milk as did the protein contained in the hay, beet 

 pulp and corn gluten ration. 



10. The diuretic effect of the alfalfa appeared to be without influence 

 in lessening the yield of milk and milk ingredients. 



11. In case of the average of two experiments (IV and V), alfalfa proved 

 slightly superior to rowen in the volume of milk produced. The difference, 

 however (4.2 per cent, on the basis of equal amounts of dry matter in the 

 two rations), was not sufficient to warrant any marked claim of superior- 

 ity. This slight stimulating effect may be due to the superiority of the 

 protein contained in the alfalfa. 



12. The fat percentage in the milk produced on the alfalfa ration did 

 not keep pace with the increased milk yield, for a like amount of dry 

 matter in the alfalfa and rowen rations produced a like amount of milk 

 fat. 



13. The herd made a total gain in live weight of 16 pounds on the 

 alfalfa ration, and lost a total of 24 pounds on the rowen ration, differ- 

 ences not sufficient to warrant any particular conclusion. 



14. A good quality of rowen appears to be nearly as satisfactory a 

 source of, roughage for milk production as a like amount of a similar 

 quality of alfalfa. 



15. One experiment (VI) showed that a ration composed of one-half 

 first-cut hay and one-half alfalfa, together with a little wheat bran and 

 corn-and-cob meal, gave as satisfactory results as one consisting of first- 

 cut hay, wheat bran, corn-and-cob meal and gluten feed. The former 

 ration contained substantially home-grown products, and would render it 

 unnecessary to purchase grain, the alfalfa furnishing the necessary extra 

 protein required, and the corn-and-cob meal the necessary extra digesti- 

 ble matter. 



16. One experiment (VII) indicated that reasonably good results can 



