1888.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 13 



far as the feed is concerned, to show more plainly the annual 

 profits of keeping cows of moderate milking qualities. 



The daily diet of the cows consisted, at the beginning of 

 the experiments, of tlfi'ee and one-quarter pounds of corn 

 meal, an equal weight of wheat bran, and all the hay they 

 could eat. The actual amount of hay consumed in each case 

 was ascertained by daily weighing out a liberal supply of it, 

 and deducting subsequently the hay left over. 



The statement in our records below refers to the averasfe 

 consumption of hay per day during the feeding period. 



The above stated combination of fodder articles was 

 adopted as the basis of our investigation mainly for the 

 reason that it had been used with satisfactory results in 

 some of our earlier feeding experiments, and not on the 

 assumption of its being the best possible combination of 

 fodder articles for milch cows. The weiijhts of the animals 

 were taken on the same day of each week before milking 

 and feeding. 



The valuation of the various fodder articles consumed is 

 based on the local market price per ton in Amherst when used. 



Rye middlings, . . $24.00. 



Dry corn fodder (stover) , 5.00. 



Corn ensilage, . . 2.75. 



Carrots, .... 7.00. 



The value of a fodder for dairy purposes may be stated 

 from two distinctly different standpoints ; namely, with ref- 

 erence to its influence on the tewporary yield of tnilk and 

 the general condition of the animals which consume it, and 

 in regard to its first cost, — i. e., its physiological and com- 

 mercial value. 



The market value and the actual feeding efiect of one and 

 the same article do not necessarily correspond with each 

 other; in fact, they rarely coincide. 



The market value may be stated for each locality by one 

 definite num]>er. The feedinsr effect of one and the same 

 substance, simple or compound, varies under different cir- 

 cumstances, and depends in a controlling degree on its Judi- 

 cious use in compounding diets 



As no single plant or part of plant has been found to sup- 

 ply economically and efficiently, to any considerable extent, 



