1921.] 



EooTS V. Silage for Dairy Cows. 



617 



Taking the composition of foods given in Rations for Live 

 \ Stock, by Professor T. B. Wood, F.R.S. (Miscellaneous Publica- 

 1 tions, No. 32, published by the Ministry), the following 

 • table shows the composition of the rations fed during the first 

 month of the experimental period until 20th February. 



Quality of the Milk. — It is worthy of note that no offensive 

 odour or other abnormality was noted in any of the milk pro- 

 duced during the whole period of the experiment. 



The milk was not tested for fat content, as it was considered 

 unnecessary to do so. 



It used to be held that the feeding had a considerable 

 influence upon the richness of milk, but more accurate investi- 

 gations go to show that it has very little to do with it. The 

 subject was discussed by Dr. Crowther in a previous issue of 

 this Journal , He found that, provided the ration is sufficient to 

 maintain the milk yield and general " condition " of the 

 animal, the composition of the milk can, in general, be but 

 little affected by changes in the nature of the foods. Even in 

 the case of under-feeding the composition of the milk is, as a 

 rule, but little affected until the condition of the animal has 

 been very seriously reduced. The common view that turnips 

 or brewer's grains give watery milk has received but little 

 support from experimental investigations, although the long- 

 continued use of these foods may lead ultimately to a general 

 weakening of the organs of the body, and result in poorer milk. 

 Ability to yield rich milk is inherent in the cow, and if more 

 butter fat is to be got from any cow, it can only be done by 

 feeding to get a greater yield of milk of the same quality. 



Taking the figures for the two lots, we get the following: — 



Silage (u'ith chajf and 4 l^. daily of concentrated foods). 

 \ Yield of 



Milk in lb. 



6 cows of Lot I. fed on Silage 1st 4 weeks 23rd Jan. (p.m.) 3,366;^ 



to 20th Feb. (a.m.) 



6 cows of Lot IL Last 4 weeks 27th Feb. (p.m.) 2,634J 



to 27th March (a.m.) 



j , Total ... 6,000^ 



I Boots (with chaff and 8 lb. daily of concentrated foods). 



^ 6 cows of Lot IL 1st 4 weeks 23rd Jan. (p.m.) 3,754| 



to 20th Feb. (a.m.) 

 6 cows of Lot I. Last 4 Aveeks 27th Feb. (p m.) 2,807^ 



to 27th March (a.m.) 



i Total 6,562i 



