A STUDY OF RATIONS FED TO MILCH COWS. 19 
two tests on the same herd. In the rations fed to one of the 
herds the nutritive ratio in the first test was as narrow as in 
the standard tentatively suggested by the Station, but in this 
case as in the others the second ration was made still narrower. 
CALCULATION OF RATIONS USED. 
In the experiments of 1893-94 and 1894-95, as soon as it 
was possible to obtain the results of the analyses of the feeds 
used in the first test, the proportions of nutrients in the ration 
were calculated, and suggestions were made for changes in the 
ration. After changes had been made and the animals had 
been upon the new ration for two weeks or longer, the herd 
was again visited and a new twelve-days’ test was made. In 
the tests during 1895-96, as the interval of nine days be- 
tween the two tests on the same herd was insufficient for the 
analyses, it became necessary to calculate the first ration from 
tables of average analyses, as a basis for formulating a new 
ration. “This was done with the idea that it would be best to 
have the Station make the change of feed. The time proved 
rather short, however, for making the change, and during the 
winter of 1896-97 we returned to the plan of allowing two 
weeks between tests on the same herd. In this work also the 
rations used in the first test were calculated from tables of 
average composition before change of feed was made. ‘The 
analyses were made, however, in all cases. 
OBJECT OF THE EXPERIMENTS, AND THE CHIEF POINTS OF 
INFORMATION OBTAINED. ) 
The main object in all of these experiments has been to | 
ascertain what kinds of rations the dairymen were actually L 
feeding; to study the effect of these rations upon the yields of | 
milk and butter-fat; and, in cases where it was thought that the | 
rations were not as advantageous as might be fed, to make sug- 
gestions for improvement, and to study the effects of the new 
rations on the milk product. In the first winter’s work (1892- 
93) all of the rations reported were those found in actual use 
by practical feeders, and in the later work where two tests 
were made on the same herd the first ration in all cases was 
the one in actual use by the dairyman whose herd was studied, 
while the ration used in the second test was suggested by the 
Station. 
