990 Value of Food Records. [Feb., 



twice, three times, and in one case four times during this 

 period, as the following figures show : — 



Food Records taken: — No. of Herds. Xo. of Cons. 



Once '.. ... 27 ... 560 



Twice 18 ... 38G 



Three or more times ..." ... ... 8 ... 120 



53 1,066 



As soon as possible after each visit of the milk recorder a 

 return is sent by the agricultural organiser to the farmer con- 

 cerned, showing the cost of his ration, its composition as 

 compared with the scientific requirements of the cows, and any 

 criticisms or suggestions as to how the ration might be improved 

 or reduced in cost. 



A complete statement was sent out to every farmer belonging 

 to the Society in January, and again in April, showing figures 

 for all the herds under the following headings : — Code number 

 of herd; date of visit; number of cows in milk; day's yield of 

 milk per cow; cost of food per cow: cost of food per gallon of 

 milk; quantity of roots, silage, wet grains, hay, straw, cakes' 

 and meals fed per cow; amount of digestible protein and starch 

 equivalent in the day's ration for each cow: the scientific 

 requirements of average-sized cows, in terms of digestible 

 protein and starch equivalent, giving the quantity of milk 

 quoted. From these figures every farmer is able to compare 

 his own ration and results with those of any other member of 

 the Society. 



Taking an average of the whole of the 88 food records 

 received, the following results are obtained : — 





Average. 



E 



■tr ernes. 



No. of cows in heid 



19 



2 



to 82 



Daily yield per cow per day — lb. of milk 



2205 



11-06 to 34 56 



Cost of food per cow per day — pence 



32-26 



17-63 to 54-00 



Cost of food per gallon of milk — pence 



15-13 



7-73 to 26-22 



Daily ration in 11 •. — Hoots 



52 







to 124 



Wet grains... 



5 







to 40 



Silage 



2 







to 45 



Hay 



9^ 







to 28 



Straw 



6.1 







to 22 



Cakes and Meals ... 



7* 



2 



to 17 



As in previous years, there has been a remarkable variation 

 on different farms in the average milk yields of the cows, the 

 cost of food per cow per day, and the cost of food per gallon of 

 .milk. 



