110 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Corn and Alfalfa Yield Three Times Other Crops in Feed. 



The crops raised were largely corn and alfalfa on about 

 equal areas because these produce from two to four times 

 as much digestible nutrients or feed value per acre as other 

 common farm crops. This tremendous, almost unbelievable, 

 fact is but partially understood even yet, as shown by the 

 fact that less than five per cent of the tillable area of the 

 United States is in clover and alfalfa and also by the buying 

 of great quantities of high priced protein feeds that could 

 just as well be grown on the farm. Hence the details of how 

 these crops were grown and fed will be given, the yields, 

 amount of digestible nutrients, and how the practical diffi- 

 culties were met. Six consecutive years of such crops under 

 all the varying conditions, with the total and average 

 amount of feed, and the final goal — the amount of milk 

 actually produced from it — will tell the story of larger 

 production from a given amount of land and labor. 



The Cows and Their Feed. 



Good grade cows were used. They were permitted to 

 run loose in a round barn, being allowed plenty of fresh 

 air, and the freedom of a yard in suitable weather. The 

 only feed given the cows was that raised on this area. 

 Corn silage and alfalfa were fed in whatever amounts the 

 cows would consume. Corn meal was added to the ration 

 when needed and available from this land. 



The record of production of each cow in milk and fat 

 for every week in the whole six years was kept and is avail- 

 able. The production of the cows was quite remarkable 

 when it is considered that so little grain was fed. The rec- 

 ords show the great value of corn silage and alfalfa hay as 

 the principal ration for all dairy cows, and it also shows 

 that milk can be very profitably produced on these feeds 

 without grain of any kind, excepting when cows are produc- 

 ing heavily. 



The next article in this series will tell of the unusual 

 yield and special suitability of corn and alfalfa as compan- 

 ion crops for dairy production. 



