44 



MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



The horse beans were rather immature, containing but 

 few pods and were not at their best stage of growth for fodder. 

 Owing to the dry condition of the corn, the silage did not keep 

 well after the silo was opened and the time occupied by the 

 experiment had to be cut down to two periods of two weeks 

 each, which is shorter time than is desirable. With this 

 exception the experiment may be considered a success. The 

 silage was readily eaten and well relished by the cows. The 

 gross amount of silage fed was not so large as in the experi- 

 ment made in 1895 for the reason that the silage of 1896 con- 

 tained considerable less water, but the total dry matter fed was 

 about the same. 



The ration fed for the first period was the same as fed in the 

 third period of the experiment described above. 



DAILY RATIONS FOR COWS. 



Ration I. Timothy hay, 20 pounds; silage, 20 pounds; grain, 

 8 pounds. 



Ration II. Timothy hay, 15 pounds; silage, 35 pounds; grain, 

 4 pounds. 



Cows five and six received but six and seven pounds of grain 

 respectively in the first period, and one-half that amount in the 

 second period. 



The results of the experiment are found in the following 

 tables: 



DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS CONSUMED BY EACH LOT OF COWS AND 

 AVERAGE PER COW, PER DAY. 



Ration I. 



Ration II. 



Protein 



Carbohydrates 



Fat 



Total 



Per cow 



lbs. 



7.0 

 40.0 



2.4 



50.0 

 16.7 



lbs. 



6.2 

 37.2 



2.6 



46.0 

 15.3 



lbs. 



6.8 

 49.2 



2.4 



57.4 

 19.1 



lbs. 



5.4 



47.5 



2.4 



55.3 

 18.4 



