56 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
SUMMARY. 
In the winter of 1892-93, the Station began making systematic 
observations of the winter feeding practices of Connecticut dairymen. 
The chief points upon which information was obtained were: Num- 
ber of animals in the herd; breed, age and approximate weight of 
each cow; length of time since dropping last calf and till due to 
calve again; weights of milk flow; percentages and amounts of 
butter-fat in the milk; kinds, weights and chemical composition of 
feeding stuffs used, 
In 1892-93 sixteen herds were visited and a five-days’ test made 
with each. In 1893-94 six herds were visited, and in four instances 
the time of study of the management and products of each were 
extended to twelve days. As‘ soon as the analyses could be made the 
rations were calculated, and tn three cases other rations were sug- 
gested. The feed was gradually changed to the suggested ration, 
and after four weeks from the close of the first test another twelve- 
days’ test was made with the new ration. 
Ingeneral there was the largest yield of milk and the largest butter 
production with narrow rations rich in protein. Warde rations, low in 
protein, did not in these instances favor large milk or butter production, 
In the three tests of 1893-94, when it was possible to study the 
financial side of the feeding, narrow rations, rich tn protein were 
decidedly the more economical, 
Bearing tn mind that there ts no such thing as a “ best ration,” 
and that all attempts to express tn terms of protein and energy the 
needs of a dairy cow are only approximations, the following ration 
as tentatively suggested as a basts for feeding dairy cows: 
Organic matter, 25 pounds, digestible protein, 2.5 pounds, and enough digest- 
thle fat and carbohydrates to bring the fuel value up to about 31,000 Calories. 
The subject of cattle feeding and handling ts a large one, and only 
general principles can be laid down. No hard and fast rules for 
feeding are now known, and doubtless none ever will be known, Tt 
as nevertheless true that the man who exercises the greatest amount of 
good gudgment, based upon all that the most advanced sctence can 
bring to him, and who tries to put into practice the knowledge thus 
acquired, will be much surer of success than one who works blindly. 
There may be no “ best” breed, no “best” ration, and no “best” 
way of handling dairy stock, but there are poor cows, uneconomical 
rations, and bad ways of handling, and the man who learns to avoid 
the bad and choose the better ts well on the road toward the best. 


