15 



The remarkable thing about it is that it is so rich in protein. This enables 

 us to get balanced rations from this hay combined with roots alone, or with 

 silage, or even with straw, in which latter case, however, the ration barely 

 contains enough nutriment. This means that in winter, with cows in full 

 flow of milk, we can feed them in some parts of the State for 6 to 8 cents per 

 head per day. 



" It should be remembered that cattle that have never eaten alfalfa do 

 not like it readily; hence those dairymen in the cities who buy alfalfa hay 

 should go slow and feel their way carefully before feeding any of the rations 

 outlined above. For a change from such rations, which would probably 

 grow monotonous after a time, the following would answer : 



Protein. Fuel. 



16 lbs. alfalfa hay 1.73 6.78 



25 IDs. carrots .27 2.20 



7 lbs. barley .61 4.77 



2.61 13.75 



" West Side Rations. 



" The principal feeding stuffs grown in Western Washington are timothy, 

 clover (red and alsike), pease and oats, roots, clover and pea silage, and oats. 

 Those purchasable at reasonable prices are alfalfa hay, bran, shorts, and 

 various bye products, such as brewers' grains, oil meal, etc., though the last 

 named is usually sold at so high a .price that farmers can not afford to feed it 

 extensively. Nearly the same list of feeding stuffs apply to the Kittitas 

 Valley, one of our best developed dairy sections. 



"It is not difficult to secure ideal rations from the above list ; but unless 

 we use pease and oats in some form, there is some difliculty in securing 

 enough protein in the rations without buying the expensive concentrated 

 feeds. The greater variety of feeding stuffs available on the west side 

 undoubtedly renders the rations more palatable on the whole than those 

 where only a few materials are to be had, other things, of course, being 

 equal. 



" Below are found a few west side rations which illustrate a few of the 

 types which are commonly fed, or which may easily be fed. It will be 

 noticed that where pease and oats are used, either as hay or silage, that 

 much less grain is required to make a satisfactory ration. The figures used 

 for the composition of pease and oats are those for this feed when cut at the 

 stage when the earliest pease are large enough for table use, ^nd the oats are 

 about mature, but not yet turning yellow. 



1. 



Protein. Fuel, 



lbs. lbs. 



8 lbs. timothy hay .23 3.55 



8 lbs. clover hay .65 3.50 



30 lbs. mangels .30 2.01 



4 lbs. bran .50 2.02 



4 lbs. shorts -., .43 2.59 



2.11 13.67 



