Thirty-fourth Annual Convention. ^^ 



Lot I produced 9 per cent more milk during the period fed 

 alfalfa than during the period fed timothy. The average per 

 cow for the eight weeks fed alfalfa was 1,667.7 pounds and the 

 average when fed timothy hay was 1,531.5 pounds. 1,667.7 — 

 1,531=136.4 pounds difference. 136.4X9=1,227.6 pounds the 

 loss for the entire lot while fed timothy. 



Lot II produced 23.8 per cent more milk while fed alfalfa 

 than while fed timothy. The average per cow for the eight 

 weeks fed alfalfa was 1,475.1 pounds and for the eight weeks 

 fed timothy was 1,-191.1 pounds. 1,475.1—1,191.1=284.0 the 

 difference, or loss by feeding timothy. 284.0^9=2,556 loss for 

 the entire lot. 



Assuming that this difference would be continued during 

 the entire feeding season of about 6 months, or 25 weeks, the 

 loss for lot I would be 3,836.2+7,987.5=11,823.7 pounds or the 

 loss for 18 cows during the feeding season. 11,823.7^100= 

 118.24X$1.30=$153.71. This may represent the loss by feed- 

 ing timothy hay, or profit by feeding alfalfa hay. 



Let us figure it another way. The difference in lot I for 

 the eight weeks was 1,227.6 pounds. This at $1.30 per hundred 

 would be worth $15.95. The difference in lot II for the eight 

 weeks was 2,556.0 pounds. This at $1.30 per one hundred 

 pounds equals $33.22. $33.22+$15.95=$49.17, the difference in 

 eight weeks for 18 cows. About 5 tons of hay were fed during 

 this period. $49.18^5=$9.83 the difference in ^he value of the 

 hay per ton for milk production, when milk is vv^orth $1.30 per 

 hundred pounds. If the milk were worth $1.00 per hundred 

 the difference in the value of the hay would be $7.56. With 

 another herd of cows these figures might be either larger or 

 smaller. 



$153.71, the gain by feeding alfalfa over timothy in this 

 case is equal to 6 per cent interest on $2,573.00. That would be 

 6 per cent interest on the money invested in 51 cows at $50.00 

 each. 



The great objection raised by farmers is that they can not 

 raise alfalfa. They have not yet tried thoroughly. If alfalfa 

 can be successfully grown in southern and central Illinois and 

 also in southern Wisconsin and cannot be grown in northern 

 Illinois, it is not a question of climate but of soil conditions which 

 can be remedied. If alfalfa can not be grown, grow clover, 



