Feeding Experiment with Milch Cows. 



409. The feeding experiments described within a few subsequent 

 pages were chiefly instituted for the purpose of studying the feeding 

 value of dried corn fodder (stover) as a substitute for English hay, 

 and of beet roots as compared with corn ensilage. The observa- 

 tions made in this connection extended over a period of nearly 

 eight months — November, 1885 to July, 1886. 



Two cows, crosses of native stock and Ayrshires and both from 

 six to seven years old, served for the trial. They were in the same 

 milking period, four weeks after calving at the beginning of the 

 experiments. The changes in the daily diet, whenever decided upon, 

 were made gradual to prevent any serious disturbance in the general 

 condition of the animal on trial. As a rule from four to five and 

 more days were allowed to pass by, in case of a change of feed, 

 before a record of the daily yield of milk was made for the purpose 

 of comparing the effect of different fodder rations. 



The valuation of the various fodder articles consumed is based on 

 our local market prices, per ton, at the time of their use : good 

 English hay $15, corn meal $23, wheat bran $20, dry corn fodder 

 (stover) $5, corn ensilage $2.75, Lane's Improved Sugar beet $5. 



The daily diet of both cows consisted at the heginning of the 

 experiments of three and one-quarter pounds of corn meal, an equal 

 weight of wheat bran and all the hay they would eat. The actual 

 amount of hay consumed, in each case, was ascertained by weighing 

 out daily a liberal supply of it and deducting subsequently the hay 

 left over. The same fodder mixture, as far as qualitity and quan- 

 tity are concerned, was also used for some time as daily feed at the 

 close of the experiment. This course was adopted for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the natural shrinkage in daily yield of milk during 

 the time engaged by the experiments (from seven to eight months). 

 It amounted as may be noticed in the subsequent detailed record to 

 nearly fifty per cent, of the original yield of milk. 



The above stated combination of fodder articles was adopted as 



