6 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
D (page 22). The character of the ration for pigs affecting 
the gaims in live weight. When the ration consisted of skim 
milk alone, 230 pounds of digestible nutrients were required 
for 100 pounds gain in live weight; 258 pounds from milk and 
shorts, and 294 pounds from shorts alone. 
General. The value of a feed depends upon its composition, 
digestibility and ease or facility of digestion. The first two 
factors are considered in the formulation of rations. The 
third factor has only recently been recognized, and little 
definite knowledge in regard to it is at hand. In a general 
way, it is recognized that milk is more easily digested than 
meal; concentrates than roughage; early than late cut hay; 
silage than corn stover; oat than rye straw. A pound of 
digestible matter, therefore, should be more valuable in the 
former than in the latter. 
A. EXCLUSIVE MEAL FEEDING. 
“In 1874, Mr. Linus W. Miller of New York reported that 
for several years he had successfully maintained a herd of 
dairy cows, while dry in winter, for a period of about eight 
weeks, by giving each animal as its sole feed not above three 
quarts of finely-ground corn meal daily. At first the animals 
were more or less restless, but they soon quieted down, all 
rumination ceasing. Only a small quantity of water was 
drank. The animals remained in fair flesh. In the spring 
upon changing back to normal feeding, a limited amount of 
hay was first given and the supply gradually increased. Calves 
from cows thus maintained were strong and healthy. 
A committee was appointed by L. B. Arnold, President of 
the American Dairymen’s Association, to visit Mr. Miller’s 
stable and report its findings. The committee reported that it 
found that cows weighing about 900 pounds each had been 
fed on corn meal exclusively for seven weeks, at the time of | 
inspection the animals receiving on the average three quarts 
of corn meal each, daily. It further reported, “The cows did 
not ruminate, were very quiet, did not evince any inordinate de- 
sire for food when hay was shown them, not so much as cows 

