130 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
A STUDY OF RATIONS FED TO MILCH COM saa 
CONINE Gil l@ igi 
BY. CC, S.eP Hees: 
In the winter of 1892-3 the Station began a study of rations 
fed to milch cows on dairy farms in this state, which has been 
continued up to the present time. During the first year the 
tests were in the nature of preliminary studies for the purpose 
of ascertaining the ordinary methods of feeding in practice 
among our dairymen, and a comparatively large number of 
tests were made. Beginning with the winter of 1893-4 and 
continuing up to 1897 series of tests were made for the purpose 
of studying the relative economy of such rations as farmers 
were feeding their herds in their own practice, as compared 
with other rations, generally richer in protein, which were 
proposed by the Station. Each herd studied was selected 
after a personal inspection in order to ascertain its fitness 
for the proposed tests. A representative of the Station was 
present during the whole period of the tests and personally 
attended to the details of the experiments, such as the weigh- 
ings of the feeds, taking samples for analysis, weighing and 
sampling of milk and determining the butter fat in the milk 
by the Babcock method. The chief points observed in the 
experiments were: 
Number of animals in the herd.—Only such cows as were giv- 
ing a fair quantity of milk at the time of the test were included 
in the study. Cows which were nearly dry, or were “‘ off feed,”’ 
or for any reason did not seem representative of the herd were 
excluded entirely from the group under observation. 
Breed, age and approximate weight of each cow.—The breed 
and age were obtained as accurately as possible from the owner. 
Since it was not practicable to carry to the farm scales large 
enough to weigh the cows, the weights were estimated by either 
