328 .BULLETIN No. 111. [August, 



the clover hay, only medium. The larger part of the stover was 

 choice, but the shredded stover fed from February 7 to March 15 

 was of poor quality. 



From the beginning of the test until January 28, salt was fed 

 each lot at regular intervals after which time it was kept before 

 them at all times in order to determine the relative amounts the 

 different lots would consume. 



SHELTER AND FEED LOTS 



Each lot of cows was provided with the same sized feed lot and 

 open shed. The lots were paved with brick except under the sheds 

 which were open their whole length to the south. These sheds 

 were 12x36 feet. The feeding was done in racks or bunks outside 

 except the straw which was fed in a manger under the shed to pre- 

 vent it from getting wet and thus unfitting for bedding what was 

 not eaten. The sheds were bedded daily so that the cows always 

 had a clean dry place on which to lie. Each lot had access to clean 

 water at all times except the night before weighing when the water 

 was shut away from them. 



Each lot was fed twice daily, during the winter months at 7 

 a. m. and 4 p. m., but in the spring earlier in the morning and at 5 

 p. m. The clover hay in each instance was fed at night. All other 

 feeds were divided equally between the two feedings. The silage- 

 fed cows were started upon ten pounds per cow per day. This was 

 increased at the rate of one pound per cow every other day until the 

 daily ration of each cow reached twenty pounds. The amounts 

 fed were varied from time to time in an effort to feed enough 

 and not too much to maintain the cows. 



The cows were weighed at intervals of one week. They were 

 weighed before being fed in the morning and the water was with- 

 held for twelve hours previous to taking the weights. The initial 

 and final weights were secured by taking the average weights on 

 three consecutive days at the beginning and end of the test, respec- 

 tively. 



The table shows that the silage-fed cows did much the best 

 Since the cows were weighed individually as well as by groups it was 

 determined that, aside from the cows which calved there were three 

 cows in lot 3 that actually lost in live weight, one losing as much as 

 one hundred pounds. Another cow in this lot gained as much as 

 one hundred thirty-six pounds. In lots I and 2 no cows lost in 

 weight except those which calved before the end of the test. 



