ECONOMIC FEEDING OF DAIRY COWS. 



65 



for milk production, and 1 .8-^-22=. 081+, the amount of protein required 

 for one pound of milk according to Dr. Lehmann. 



During the winter of 1894-5, at the Minnesota Station, an experiment 

 was made with dairy cows, comparing various feeding stuffs, during which 

 less protein was fed than is prescribed in the various feeding standards, 

 and it was therefore a practical test as to whether cows required as much 

 protein as the standards call for. All feed stuffs used were subjected to 

 chemical analysis, every ration was weighed out daily to each cow, and 

 each milking was weighed and tested with the Babcock milk test. It may 

 therefore be assumed that the data obtained are fairly accurate. 



The following table gives the daily average of dry matter and digest- 

 ible nutrients consumed and milk yielded and average per cent, butterfat in 

 each cow's milk from November 19, 1894, to February 10, 1895 84 days. 



The daily consumption of dry matter ranged from 20.08 pounds to 

 31.49, and averaged 24.30, being very near the amount fixed in the stand- 

 ards. The amount of digestible protein provided ranged from 1.63 pounds 

 to 2.64 pounds, and averaged practically 2 pounds, while the carbohy- 

 drates and ether extract varied but little from the standard. Since the 

 flow of milk was large and remarkably uniform, and the cows were ap- 

 parently well nourished, it may be assumed that the nutrients provided 

 were ample. It will be observed that none of the cows 'had as much pro- 

 tein in proportion to milk yielded as is prescribed in Dr. Lehmann's 

 modification of the Wolff standard, except Betty and Dora, that were near 

 the close of their period of lactation, and gave milk containing over 6 per 

 cent, of butterfat. It is probable that these cows and some others received 



