1911.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 53 



At iiitcrviils stiulj has also been given to the chemistry of the 

 soils oil Field A, in hopes of ascertaining the cause or causes 

 of clover sickness, but no definite results can be reported. 



4. Research Work in Animal J^TuTKiTioisr. 



Work is in progress to study the effect of lactic and butyric 

 acids upon the digestibility of food. It has been shown that 

 molasses is responsible for a decided digestion depression upon 

 the foodstuffs with which it is fed. It being recognized that 

 such material in the digestive tract is a large yielder of organic 

 acids, it seemed at least possible that it is these acids which 

 check the further action of the micro-organisms, and prevent 

 their attacking the more difficultly digestible fiber, pentosans 

 and gums. 



A paper is presented elsewhere in this report attempting to 

 show the protein requirements of dairy animals. Most dairy 

 animals respond to increased amounts of protein over a protein 

 minimum. By minimum is meant the amount required for 

 maintenance plus that required in the milk. An excess of 25 

 per cent, over the minimum seems to give very satisfactory 

 results, and is sufficient under most conditions. 



Two experiments with dairy cows have been completed to 

 note the comparative effects of corn meal, dried beet pulp and 

 dried molasses beet pulp for milk production. Another experi- 

 ment with corn meal versus ground oats has also been com- 

 pleted. The results have not been worked out. 



The complete records of the station herd have been tabulated 

 from 189G through 1909. giving such data as food cost of milk 

 production, dry and digestible matter required to produce defi- 

 nite amounts of milk, total solids and fat, relation of grain to 

 roughage, etc. The food cost of 5 per cent, milk for 1909 was 

 o..'] cents per quart. 



Talmlntions. 



There has been prepared and will be found elsewhere in this 

 report the following tabulations: — 



1. Analyses of all cattle feeds made in this laboratory 

 throiiiih 1010. 



