18 BULLETIN 945, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
are quite beyond experimental control but which might have some 
influence on milk yield, happen to a cow — weather changes and small 
disturbances in health and appetite are examples of such incidents. 
To report them, even to the extent to which they have been recorded 
in our notes, would be quite impracticable on account of the space 
required. We have, therefore, given only such features of the his- 
tories of the cows as might have an influence on the milk yield of the 
same general order of magnitude as the differences which have com- 
monly been observed as the result of the phosphate feeding. 
The manner in which the animals were fed before calving: in our 
experiments is given below, and the tables give such data regarding 
the experiments as can be conveniently tabulated. 
RATIONS GIVEN ANIMALS BEFORE CALVING. 
ANIMALS FROM THE GENERAL HERD. 
Cow 17, 1918. — September 25 to October 18, 3 pounds grain mixture C, 4 
pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. October 19 to December 11, 4 pounds 
grain mixture C, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Coiv 17, 1919-20.— November 26, 1919, to February 14, 1920, alternated rations 
with daily average of 3i pounds grain mixture CP, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 
pounds corn silage. February 15 to March 29, 1920, alternated rations with 
daily average of 4| pounds grain mixture CP, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds 
corn silage. 
Coiv 21, 1918. — August 28 to November 30, alternated rations with daily aver- 
age of 6 pounds grain mixture CPi, 5 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Cow 49, 1918. — October 31 to December 1, 4 pounds grain mixture C, 4 
pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. December 2 to 25, 5 pounds grain 
mixture C, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Cow 49, 1919-20. — December 12, 1919, to January 14, 1920, alternated rations 
with daily average of 4| pounds grain mixture CP, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 
pounds corn silage. 
Cow 50, 1918.— October 2 to December 20, alternated rations with daily aver- 
age of 5 pounds grain mixture CPi, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, and 30 pounds corn 
silage. From October 4 to 9, 85 grams calcium carbonate were added daily to 
the silage on the days when hay was fed ; from October 10 to December 20, 158 
grams. 
Cow 50, 1920. — April 2 to June 3, 5 pounds grain mixture C, 4 pounds alfalfa 
hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Cote 54, 1917. — March 14 to May 14, 3 pounds grain mixture C, 4 pounds 
alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Cow 5k, 1919. — May 8 to June 2, alternated rations with daily average of 3 
pounds grain mixture CPi, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Cow 59, 1917. — October 26 to December 26, 3 pounds grain mixture C, 4 
pounds alfalfa hay, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Coiv 63, 1917-18. — December 1, 1917, to February 1, 1918, 3 pounds grain 
mixture C, 8 pounds corn stover, 30 pounds corn silage. 
Coiv 63, 1919. — February 3 to March 10, alternated rations with daily aver- 
age of 3 pounds grain mixture CPi, 4 pounds alfalfa hay, 24 to 30 pounds 
