TWO SYSTEMS OF FEEDING DAIRY COWS 15 



amount of roughage and a relatively large amount of grain. The station herd was 

 divided into two groups which for convenience have been designated the high 

 roughage and low roughage groups. The high roughage group received approximate- 

 ly one pound of grain for each 4^ pounds of milk produced, 35 pounds of silage, and 

 as much hay as they would clean up. The low roughage group received approxi- 

 mately one pound of grain for each 2^ pounds of milk produced, 20 pounds of silage, 

 and hay as above. 



All feed was the same in composition at any given time for both groups, except 

 that the grain mi.xture for the high roughage group was considerably richer in pro- 

 tein in order to keep the intake of protein at about the same level in both groups. 

 In all other respects the treatment of the groups was identical. 



Records were kept of general appearance of the cows, live weight, milk 

 production, feed consumption, composition of the milk and of the feeds, and the 

 reproductive function of the cows, including calf production. 



The following results have been noted : 



1. The cows in the low roughage group maintained their general appearance 

 rather better than did those receiving a relatively large amount of roughage. The 

 latter tended to be thinner and more rough coated. 



2. The cows in the low roughage group madesomewhat larger gains in weight. 



3. The cows in the low roughage group produced more milk on both a daily 

 and a yearly basis. Their lactations were slightly shorter but so also were their dry 

 periods, so that their average productive period per calendar year was slightly 

 higher. 



4. The cows in the low roughage group made slightly better use of the feed 

 they consumed as evidenced by the fact that they required 7 per cent less dry mat- 

 ter and 2.7 per cent less digestible nutrients to produce 100 pounds of milk. 



5. Feed cost of milk production was practically the same for both groups. 

 The high roughage system, however, involves a smaller cash outlay; and an addi- 

 tional saving may be effected where that system is used if the farmer is able to 

 grow his roughages for less than the current market price. 



6. The cows in the low roughage group maintained their milk production from 

 year to year somewhat better than did those in the high roughage group. 



7. The low roughage group maintained a uniform milk test as compared 

 with their test previous to the commencement of the experiment, while the high 

 roughage group fell off somewhat in this respect. 



8. The low roughage group was somewhat nearer normal in reproductive 

 function than the high roughage group. 



The conclusion which has been reached from the results of this experiment is 

 that in order to keep cows looking well and producing somewhere near the limit 

 of their ability, reasonably Uberal grain feeding must be practiced. Whether the 

 practice will be economical depends largely on the particular set of conditions pre- 

 vailing in different localities and on individual farms. With the facts in hand each 

 farmer must make his own decision as to whether he will follow either of the systems 

 outlined in these pages, or possibly a happy medium between the two. 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance 

 4M-l-'33. No 7371 



