~~ = @ 
vey 
+ 
: 

A STUDY OF RATIONS FED TO MILCH COWS. 45 
DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS. 
The results brought out in such a study as the one here 
reported are tentative rather than final. ‘This investigation was 
not undertaken with the expectation of obtaining startling facts, 
nor would we be warranted in drawing very definite conclu- 
sions from the tests. We do believe, however, that there is much 
of practical importance to be obtained along this line of inquiry, 
and that the results herewith presented merit the careful atten- 
tion of dairymen. 
It is probably true that the animals of most of the herds exam- 
ined were, so far as breed, milk and butter product are concerned, 
above the average of cows kept for dairy purposes in Connecti- 
cut. It is doubtless true that the feeding practicéd by the 
owners of these herds is better than that which is generally 
practiced throughout the State. These facts, taken together 
with the shortness of the periods of observation to which the 
herds were subjected, have been kept in mind in the following 
discussion of the results of the tests, which is reprinted from 
Bulletin 13 of this Station. 
A RATION FOR A MILCH COW. 
A proper daily ration will supply, in appropriate forms, the 
protein needed to form the nitrogenous materials of the body 
and the energy required for heat and muscular work, and a 
proper feeding standard will call for sufficient digestible protein, 
fats, and carbohydrates per day to meet these needs. But just 
what these weights should be is a matter of considerable uncer- 
tainty. Differences in breed and individual peculiarities of the 
animals, and in the food and handling, as well as other conditions, 
known and unknown, bring it about that the best rations for one 
cow may not be the best for another. The feeder must know 
his cows and fit the food to their wants. But in so doing he 
may be greatly helped by feeding standards. 
In the following table are given the commonly quoted standard 
ration proposed twenty-five or more years ago by Prof. Wolff, an 
eminent German chemist and experimenter; the average of 128 
American rations as ascertained by the Wisconsin Experiment 
Station; the average of 16 rations fed in Connecticut in 1893, and 
of 25 fed in 1893 and 1894; and a tentatively suggested ration. 
