54 SILAGE STUDIES 



The increase in the ration on March 4 was made because the 

 animals appeared to be losing flesh slightly, although their 

 milk yields remained normal. It was found that they 

 readily ate the additional food ; but it had no perceptible 

 effect on the quantity of milk. Withholding it, however, 

 might have resulted in a more rapid daily shrinkage. 



For the first three periods the average daily yield per cow 

 was as follows : 



Sanford, ending Feb. 18, 21 days, average yield, 20.8 lbs. 



Learning, ending March 10, 21 days, average yield, 19.2 lbs.; average shrink- 

 age, 1.6 lbs. 



Mosby, ending March 31, 21 days, average yield, 16.8 lbs.; average shrink- 

 age, 2.4 lbs. 



One cow was dropped from the group for the fourth period, 

 and consequently the average yield for the group could not be 

 calculated for the closing period with Sanford silage. There- 

 fore, the records of a sub-group of four cows, representing 

 different stages of lactation at the beginning of the first period 

 and continuing throughout the four, were computed for a 

 secondary comparison, which gave these results as the aver- 

 age daily yield per cow : 



Sanford, ending Feb. 18, 21 days, average yield, 26.1 lbs. 



Learning, ending March 10, 21 days, average yield, 24.1 lbs.; average 

 shrinkage, 2.0 lbs. 



Mosby, ending March 31, 21 days, average yield, 21.3 lbs.; average shrink- 

 age, 2.8 lbs. 



Sanford, ending April 21,21 days, average yield, 20.4 lbs.; average shrink- 

 age .9 lbs. 



Subtracting the daily average of one period from that of the 

 period preceding it, gives the daily rate of shrinkage of one 

 period compared with another. 



The results indicate the inferiority of Mosby silage ; but 

 are not decisive with respect to the comparative merits of 

 Sanford and Learning, although two pounds of milk per day 

 is large for an average shrinkage. 



In 1897 ^^^^ comparisons were repeated in a similar man- 

 ner, but with four different groups of cows with respect to the 

 w^eighing of rations. One grain mixture was used through- 

 out the winter, but changes were made from time to time in 



