41 



These experiments were started to test the milk-increasing 

 properties of the different fo;lders, dry and green. They were also 

 made last year, but on account of want of sufficient green fodder 

 at the time and other difficulties the results were not conclusive. 

 This year, too, difficulties had to be faced The supply of green 

 fodder did not last for the period for which they were to be made, 

 and either the fodders had to be substituted by others or the 

 experiment stopped. As the cattle are not box-fed the experi- 

 ments have to be conducted when they do not get anything to 

 graze outside. The fodders were given in such a way that the 

 dry weight of the green fodders was equal. The concentrated 

 foods remained the same as usual. 



It will be seen that the fortnightly average milk yield of the 

 four animals under trial previous to the commencement of the 

 experiment was Ibs. 10-8, Ibs. 10-9, Ibs. 17-1 and Ibs. 13-15, 

 respectively. The average rose during the second fortnight to 

 Ibs. 11-8, Ibs. 13-9, Ibs. 17-11, Ibs. 15-15, respectively, for each 

 animal. During the third fortnight the yield was nearly maintain- 

 ed without any green fodder except in the case of the fourth 

 animal, which was ill for three days. During the fourth fortnight 

 no guinea grass or green fodder was available and lucerne was 

 given to all animals, but that too lasted only for a week, during 

 which period the milk yield went down a little. 



The yield would have showed a bigger difference when the 

 animals were fed both with dry and green fodder if the animals 

 were all newly calved; but such animals were not in the dairy 

 when the experiment was conducted, as many animals at that 

 period go dry or are nearly at the middle of their milking period. 



The trial showed that no appreciable difference in milk yield 

 was obtained by the changes of rations tried. 



F. ELETCHEll, 

 Deputy Director of Agriculture. 



Poona, September 1907. 



c 990-6 



AT T1IK 



