Tests with Feeding Stuffs. 411 



That 1 lb. of dry matter in mangels is equal to 1 lb. of dry matter 

 in grain, and that mangels may replace half the grain ordinarily fed 

 in a ration composed of grain, mixed hay, and silage. 



The Cornell studies led to the conclusion that, when concentrates 

 cost $30 per ton, mangels are an economical feed for dairy cows when 

 they can be produced and stored for $4 per ton, — a high price for 

 this easily-grown crop. (351-3) 



Hills of the Vermont Station,^ in a trial with 8 cows fed 16 weeks, 

 found that the dry matter in corn silage was equal to the same weight 

 of dry matter in beets or carrots. 



In a trial wdth 6 cows for 12 weeks, Hills found the dry matter of 

 corn silage superior to that in potatoes. The cows ate the potatoes 

 readily, but they made neither more nor better milk. At 15 cents a 

 bushel the potatoes were more costly than corn silage. The butter 

 from the potato-fed cows was unsatisfactory. 



662. Soilage v. silage. — For 7 years the New Jersey Station- fed 

 soilage from May 1st to November 1st, and silage the other 6 months. 

 The cows freshened quite uniformly thruout the year. The yield of 

 milk and fat by the 23 cows in the herd for each 6-months period is 

 shown below : 



Average yield per cow 

 Milk Fat 



Lot I, Soilage, May ls1>-I^ov. 1st 3,402 lbs. 146.8 lbs. 



Lot II, Silage, Nov. Ist-May 1st— 3,024 lbs. 132.4 lbs. 



It is shown that the cows getting soilage returned about 13 per ct. 

 more milk than those fed silage. In view of the fact that soilage was 

 fed in summer and silage in winter, we may regard the two means of 

 maintaining cows as practically equal so far as the yield of milk and 

 fat are concerned. Such being the case, the dairyman seeking to 

 maintain his herd economically, w^hile at the same time securing the 

 largest possible returns, has the choice of two practical systems of 

 supplying forage. 



663. Soilage v. pasturage. — During several years at the Utah 

 Station^ Linfield compared pasture wdth soilage. A tract on which 

 orchard grass, blue grass, and alfalfa were grown was divided so that 

 one portion could be pastured while the other furnished soilage. Dur- 

 ing one year soilage crops were especially grown, in which case they 

 consisted of alfalfa, vetch, peas, and oats. Both tracts were irrigated 

 so that maximum yields were possible. No other food than the prod- 



iRpt. 1907. ^Ept. 1903. 'Bui. 68. 



