ANNUAL REPORTS. 255 



alfalfa as a hay and forage crop would be highly desirable 

 in this state, its place is easily and successfully taken by red 

 clover, and until further investigations have been made 

 regarding the methods of culture for New Hampshire con- 

 ditions, this Station is not in a position to recommend the 

 plant. 



III. Feeding. 



Protena ration. — A feeding test extending over a period 

 of sixty days was conducted to determine the comparative 

 cost of a ''protena" ration and a mixed variety ration. The 

 mixed ration consisted of a mixture of 100 lbs. bran, 100 lbs. 

 corn meal, 100 lbs. cotton seed, 100 lbs. linseed and 100 lbs. 

 Union Grains. Two Jersey cows in approximately the same 

 period of lactation were fed on each ration, receiving 8 lbs. 

 apiece per day of the grain together wdth what mixed hay 

 they would eat. The cows on the protena ration produced 

 during the sixty days 1,048.2 quarts of milk, equivalent to 

 146.36 lbs. of butter, while the cows on the mixed ration 

 produced 1,211 quarts of milk, equivalent to 166.54 lbs. of 

 butter during the same period. 



The cost of the protena was $26.00 per ton, and the 

 amount consumed by the two cows for the sixty days was 

 worth $12.48. The amount of the mixed ration consumed 

 was worth $13.32, valuing the bran, corn meal, cotton seed, 

 linseed and Union Grains at $23.00, $23.40, $32.00, $33.00, 

 and $28.00 per ton, respectively. 



The cost per quart of milk produced was 1.19 cents for 

 the protena and 1.10 cents for the mixed ration. The pro- 

 tena, which is made up largely of ground alfalfa, is more or 

 less dusty and forms a sticky paste in the mouth, and for 

 that reason was not eaten with the same relish as the 

 variety ration. 



An experiment was also carried out on the feeding of 

 protena and skim milk to pigs. During thirty days, five 

 three-months-old pigs made a total gain of 151 lbs., at a cost 

 of 3.2 T cents per pound. The bulky nature of the protena 



