146 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



and the Kafir-corn fodder to three and one-half pounds 

 daily per cow, and we found that the daily yield of milk 

 was slightly increased. The quality of the hay was the 

 same in both instances. In the latter case it was eaten up 

 clean, while in the former considerable was hauled away 

 and fed to dry cows. Later records show a still greater 

 reduction in the allowance of alfalfa without decreasing 

 the flow of milk. This experience shows some of the 

 leaks that may take place in feeding roughness, especially 

 when those feeds are appetizing, like alfalfa and red 

 clover. 



"For ease of calculation the roughness is figured on 

 the basis of alfalfa hay selling for one dollar per ton. 

 When alfalfa is worth six dollars per ton the other rough 

 feeds are worth six times the amount indicated in the 

 table; when alfalfa is worth eight dollars per ton the 

 other feeds are worth eight times as much, and so on. 

 Usually we find that we can give practically all the rough 

 feed that the cows can eat, although, as indicated above, 

 with a good quality of alfalfa or clover hay more may be 

 eaten than will be consumed at a profit. At this writing 

 alfalfa hay is selling in Manhattan at seven dollars per 

 ton. This would make the feeding values of the other 

 rough feeds worth seven times the amount indicated in 

 the table. Red clover, for instance, would be worth seven 

 times seventy cents or $4.90 per ton ; prairie hay would be 

 worth $3.57 per ton; and millet hay would be worth 

 $4.48 per ton. If the problem was to select the most eco- 

 nomical roughness, we would select alfalfa at seven dol- 

 lars per ton, in preference to red clover at six dollars 

 per ton, or prairie hay at four dollars per ton, or millet 



