132 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 186. 



experiment, namely, 8.66 against 8.64 in the fourth, and 9.14 against 9.07 

 in the fifth. On the basis of dry matter, the fat yield was the same with 

 each ration. 



Experiment VI . 



Alfalfa, English Hay and Grain v. English Hay and Grain for Milk Pro- 

 duction. 



The object of this particular experiment with milch cows was to compare 

 the feeding value of a ration composed of equal parts of alfalfa and Eng- 

 lish hay, corn-and-cob meal and a Uttle bran (mostly home-grown products) 

 with that of one consisting of Enghsh hay, bran, corn-and-cob meal and 

 gluten feed, in order to see whether reasonably satisfactory results could 

 not be secured from the use of alfalfa as a considerable source of protein, 

 in place of purchased protein in the form of bran and gluten feed. 



Plan of the Experiment. — Eight cows which had calved during the late 

 summer and autumn were divided into two groups of four each and fed 

 by the reversal method. One group of four received the so-called alfalfa 

 ration at the same time the other four were receiving the English hay and 

 purchased grain ration. In the second half of the trial the feeding was 

 reversed. 



