June, 1939] Agricl'ltural Research in N. H. 19 



Potato Seed Certified 



Eighty-one acres of potatoes were entered for certification and the 

 entire acreage passed final inspection. Mr. Butler also reports that 

 the potato growers of the state are showing increased interest in 

 new varieties. Warba has yielded well where tried and Chippewa 

 has continued to prove productive. Houma was introduced and the 

 growers who tried it were well pleased with its performance. 

 (Miscellaneous Income ) 



Cod Liver Oil Helps Calves 



As in previous trials calves receiving concentrated cod liver oil and 

 skimmilk had very good appetites and appeared to be in better physi- 

 cal condition, as indicated by the glossy appearance of the hair and 

 hide, than did animals on the regular herd ration. Ten calves of 

 four different breeds were given the special ration this year. At the 

 end of six months all were well above the normal weight for that age, 

 their average being 121 per cent, although the group as a whole was 

 slightly underweight at birth. The height of the animals averaged 

 4.3 per cent above normal. 



The results of these comparisons, which have been made for three 

 years by K. S. Morrow, indicate that whole milk feeding of dairy 

 calves can be limited to a period of a few days following birth if 

 skimmilk is supplemented with a cod liver oil concentrate. 



During the spring of 1938, a calf-feeding questionnaire was sent 

 to dairymen enrolled in the New Hampshire Dairy Herd Improve- 

 ment Association to ascertain what methods were most commonly 

 used in raising dairy calves and what phases of the work needed 

 further study. 



Only 13 dairymen out of 96 reported feeding concentrated cod liver 

 oil. Eleven of the men who had used it reported satisfactory results. 

 Forty-four had never tried skimmilk powder. Of the 52 men who 

 used it, 28 stated either that it was unsatisfactory as a feed or too 

 expensive. 



That there is considerable variance in costs of raising calves is 

 indicated by the figures submitted. Estimates of feed costs to time 

 of first calving ranged from $35 to $125, the average figure being 

 $77.43. The ratio of milking cows to calves was approximately three 

 to one. 



During 1939 definite trials of powdered skimmilk in the rations 

 will be made to determine its usefulness and practicability. In addi- 

 tion an attempt will be made to secure the cooperation of a selected 

 group of dairymen in keeping accurate feeding and cost records on 

 the raising of dairy replacements. (Bankhead-Jones Offset Fund) 

 The Cow's Anatomy in Relation to her Producing Capacity 



Complete ante-mortem and post-mortem data on four animals 

 from the dairy herd, slaughtered during the past year, were com- 

 piled as New Hampshire's contribution to a nation-wide survey being 

 conducted by the Bureau of Dairy Industry of the U. S. Department 

 of Agriculture. The data were sent to the Bureau to be tabulated 

 with similar information from other cooperating stations. There 

 are indications that definite differences exist in the anatomical 

 measurements of dairy animals. What effect, if any, these differ- 



