12 
THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
Much has been said, and many the belief expressed, by 
men of the West, where such abundant oat crops are 
always produced, that “ oat chop” fed with alfalfa is bet¬ 
ter than wheat bran for producing rich milk. This ques¬ 
tion has been the source of much argument at farmers’ 
institutes, and various meetings of dairymen and farmers. 
The statement has been made, and not successfully con- 
tradicted, that with oats worth $1.00 per hundred ($20.00 
per ton), and wheat bran at $15.00 per ton, the oats, 
ground, and alfalfa hay is worth enough more as a dairy 
feed and butter producer to justify its use. This question 
we have been asked to test in connection with this experi¬ 
ment. 
This feeding experiment was determined upon early in 
February, 1892. It was desirable to have cows repre¬ 
senting at least two breeds. The College being in posses¬ 
sion of a fine herd of Shorthorns, two cows were selected 
from it suitable for the trial. The loan of two Jerseys 
9 
was secured, through the kindness of Mr. John Nelson, a 
Jersey breeder near Fort Collins. The feeding com¬ 
menced February 18, Mr. A. Campbell, the College herds¬ 
man, in charge, and Mr. F. A. Huntley, Assistant Agri¬ 
culturist, helping with the milk analyses. 
With the above objects in view, the four cows were 
placed upon a ration of 2 pounds of oat chop—that is, 
ground or rolled oats—and the first crop of lucerne, or 
better known as alfalfa hay. They were given the ration 
morning, noon and evening ; more hay was fed than they 
would eat, the residue always being weighed, and de¬ 
ducted from the original weight of the feed. Every fore¬ 
noon, between 10 and 11 o’clock, each cow was weighed. 
They were given exercise in a lot, but not allowed access 
to anything they might eat, and were given all the water 
they desired. 
