162 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 255 



Table 2. — Average of All Samples 



Material State of Material 



Water Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Potassium 



Per cent 



Hay Dry matter basis none 



Hay Natural moisture 10 



Silage Dry matter basis . 



Silage Natural moisture . 



none 



78 



{Ca) 



Per cent 



■26-.72 



0.46 



0.41 



.20-.69 

 0.36 

 0.08 



{P) 

 Per cent 

 ■ 10-.28 



0.18 



0.16 



. 12-.24 

 0.20 

 0.04 



(Mg) 



Per cent 



■ 11-.39 



0.20 



0.18 



0.25 

 0.06 



(K) 

 Per cent 

 .70-2.71 



1.40 



1.26 



1.24 

 0.27 



The figures above the line refer to minimum and maximum percentage, and the figure below 

 the line represents the average. 



Comments on the analyses of hay 



Calcium and phosphorus are the minerals most likely to be deficient in the ration 

 of the dairy cow. In cases where calcium falls below 0..30 per cent, it might be 

 considered deficient. Whether this represents the normal conditions on the 

 particular farms where the samples were taken, it is not possible to state. The 

 average of 0.41 per cent is believed to be normal and sufficient for the purposes of 

 nutrition. A few samples show a low phosphorus percentage, namely, 0.10-0.14 

 per cent, but the average of O.IG probably is satisfactory. There is not much 

 danger of a phosphorus deficiencj" in New England for the reason that considerable 

 grain is fed, which is high in this ingredient. The magnesium and potassium are 

 believed to be ample in amount, although there are wide differences in the potash 

 percentage (0.75 to 2.23). Hays containing the lesser amounts maj^ have been 

 grown on soils naturally low in available potash. 



Comments on the analyses of silage 



Compared with hay, on a dry matter basis the silages average rather less calcium 

 (0.36 compared with 0.46 for hay) and potassium (1.24 compared with 1.40 for 

 hay) and about the same percentages of phosphorus and magnesium. Individual 

 samples var}^ widely, depending probably upon available soil mineral constituents 

 and stage of growth. The data show no pronounced deficit of mineral constitu- 

 ents. 



Relation of botanical composition of the hay to the ash content 



Twelve samples of hay were all or nearly all timothy; twenty were mixed 

 grasses. 



Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Potassium 



Timothy 40 .19 .18 1.55 



Mixed gras.ses 50 .17 .22 1.31 



Differences of importance are not noticed, although rather less calcium is 

 found in the timothy than in the mixed grasses. 



Relation of number of ears in silage to ash content 



Eleven of the samples were well-eared; thirteen had few or no ears. 



Calcium Phosphorus Magnesium Potassium 



Not eared 37 .19 .28 1.39 



Well-eared 2S .19 .21 1.07 



