76 



EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



In the first period the first weights were made at the begin- 

 ning of the preliminary period; in the other two periods at 

 the beginning of the periods proper. In the first period Herd 



I. showed only slight variations, excepting May, which lost 

 some 53 pounds, and evidently was not receiving quite suffi- 

 cient nutriment. In the same jDei'iod Maude was evidently 

 eating a little more than was required. 



In the second period proper of 28 days, 4 of the cows in 

 Herd I. showed a little loss in live weight ; the animals in Herd 



II. manifested only slight variations, exceiDting Samantha and 

 particularly Blanche. Samantha during most of her milking 

 period did not apj)ear to be in first-class condition, although she 

 ate her food clean and gave no evidence of pronounced indis- 

 position. The loss in live weight in case of Blanche was due 

 to the intestinal disturbance already referred to. In the third 

 period both herds made a noticeable increase of weight, due to 

 the advance in lactation and the consequent milk shrinkage. 



The average ffain or loss in weight makes clear that each 

 herd was well nourished, and that during the several periods, 

 extending over four months, the variations in weight were not 

 more than would have been ex2:)ected. 



Table VIII. — Total Amount of Milk produced by Each Cow in Each 



Herd {Pounds). 



nerd I. 



