22 THE PRICKLY PEAR AS FOOD FOB ST<:>CK. 



Mr. Thomas Dug-gar. of Hoehne, Colo., has fed the common tree 

 cactus of that region to milk cows with good success. The informa- 

 tion secured from Mr. Duggar. while not so definite as that which one 

 is able to obtain from the dairymen around San Antonio. Tex., where 

 the feeding is better established and not so much of an experiment, 

 nevertheless indicates that the cane cactus of this region is probably 

 as good feed for milk production as prickly pear. Cactus, singed 

 with brush, has been fed with a good quality of hay for two or three 

 winter- with what is considered good results. Doubtless some con- 

 centrated feed stuff, such as cotton-seed products, or corn chop, would 

 add very materially to the quality of the ration for milk production. 



SOME DAIRY RATIONS IXCLUDIXO PEAR. 



The practice of feeding dairy cows upon a partial ration of pear is 

 very common — indeed, general — in the Ritire region of the lower Rio 

 Grande, and a- far north a- San Antonio. Tex. The necessity for feed- 

 ing this plant depends upon the condition of the seasons. When the 

 winter rains are abundant and green feed is plentiful no pear to speak 

 of is fed: but during a dry winter it is resorted to as the most economi- 

 cal method of supplying the succulence so essential to the maintenance 

 of a good flow of milk. The amount fed depends largely upon the quan- 

 tity of pear available and the labor at hand for handling it. In some 

 cases which have come under the writer'- direct observation the pear 

 has been hauled six miles to feed to dairy cattle, and it is as much 

 prized by many dairymen as any other part of their feed-tuffs. 



Air. J. W. Statelier feed- 100 dairy cows regularly for three or four 

 months during the winter. The feeding begins when the leaves fall otf 

 the brush in the autumn, and continues until they appear again in the 

 spring. The ration for a cow is about as follow-: Cotton-seed meal. 

 2 pounds: cotton-seed hull-. 8 pounds: bran of wheat or rice. 1 gallon: 

 singed pear. 40 pound-, the run of brush pasture. 



Mr. J. G. Hagenson's practice does not differ materially from that 

 of Mr. Statelier. Having no pear- however, he buys it at 25 cents per 

 load, a load consisting of about 2,000 pounds. His cattle get a ration 

 approximately as follow-: Bran. pound-: cotton-seed hulls. 10 pounds: 

 singed pear. 30 to 40 pound.-: the run of dry-brush pasture. 



In order to secure a better idea of the practices in vogue in feeding 

 pear in the vicinity of San Antonio than time for personal inquiry 

 would warrant, a circular letter was addressed to several dairymen. 

 The following questions and answers in connection with the above dis- 

 cussion give a good idea of the practice- which obtain and the estimate 

 placed upon the prickly pear of the region as a succulence for milk 

 production. Answers to the questions proposed were furnished by 



