Feeding Experiment with Milch Cows. 409. The feeding experiments described within a few subsequent pages were chiefly instituted for the purpose of studying the feeding value of dried corn fodder (stover) as a substitute for English hay, and of beet roots as compared with corn ensilage. The observations made in this connection extended over a period of nearly eight months-November, 1885 to July, 1886. Two cows, crosses of native stock and Ayrshires and both from six to seven years old, served for the trial. They were in the same milking period, four weeks after calving at the beginning of the experiments. The changes in the daily diet, whenever decided upon, were made gradual to prevent any serious disturbance in the general condition of the animal on trial. As a rule from four to five and more days were allowed to pass by, in case of a change of feed, before a record of the daily yield of milk was made for the purpose of comparing the effect of different fodder rations. The valuation of the various fodder articles consumed is based on our local market prices, per ton, at the time of their use: good English hay $15, corn meal $23, wheat bran $20, dry corn fodder (stover) $5, corn ensilage $2.75, Lane's Improved Sugar beet $5. The daily diet of both cows consisted at the beginning of the experiments of three and one-quarter pounds of corn meal, an equal weight of wheat bran and all the hay they would eat. The actual amount of hay consumed, in each case, was ascertained by weighing out daily a liberal supply of it and deducting subsequently the hay left over. The same fodder mixture, as far as qualitity and quantity are concerned, was also used for some time as daily feed at the close of the experiment. This course was adopted for the purpose of ascertaining the natural shrinkage in daily yield of milk during the time engaged by the experiments (from seven to eight months). It amounted as may be noticed in the subsequent detailed record to nearly fifty per cent. of the original yield of milk. The above stated combination of fodder articles was adopted as the basis of our investigation, mainly for the reason, that it had been used with satisfactory results in some of our earlier feeding experiments, and not on the assumption of being the best possible combination of fodder rations for milch cows. The value of a fodder for dairy purposes may be stated from two distinctly different standpoints: namely with reference to its influence on the temporary yield of milk and the general condition of the animals which consume it; and in regard to its first cost, i. e., its physiological and its commercial value. The judicious selection of ingredients for a suitable and remunerative diet for our dairy stock obliges us to study the value of the fodder articles at our disposal from both standpoints. The chemical analyses of the various articles used in the combination of fodder in our case have been stated in some succeeding pages to show the character and respective quality of the latter. To ascertain the chemical composition of a fodder ration in connection with an otherwise carefully managed feeding experiment, enables us to recognize with more certainty the causes of the varying feeding effect of one and the same fodder article, when fed in different combinations. It furnishes also a most valuable guide in the selection of suitable commercial feed stuffs from known sources to supplement economically our home raised fodder crops. Practical experience in feeding stock has so far advanced, that it seems to need no farther argument to accept it as a matter of fact, that the efficiency of a fodder ration in the dairy does not depend on the mere presence of more or less of certain prominent fodder articles, but on the presence of a proper quantity and a certain relative proportion of some prominent constituents of plants, which are known to be essential for a successful support of the life and the special functions of the dairy cow. Investigations into the relations, which the various prominent constituents of plants bear to the support of animal life, have rendered it advisable to classify them in this connection into three groups, mineral constituents and nitrogenous and non nitrogenous organic constituents. For details regarding this matter I have to refer to previous publications of the Station, as the BULLETIN can only contain a condensed abstract of our work. Numerous and extensive practical feeding experiments with most of our prominent fodder articles in various conditions, and with all kinds of farm live stock, have introduced the practice of reporting together with the analysis of the chemist, the results of careful feeding experiments, 2 as far as the various fodder articles have proved digestible, and were thus qualified for the support of the life and the functions of the particular kind of animal on trial. In stating the amount of the digestible portion of the fodder consumed in a feeding experiment, it has also proved useful, for comparing different fodder rations, etc., to make known by a distinct record the relative proportion which has been noticed to exist, between the amount of nitrogenous constituents and the non nitrogenous organic constituents. This relation is expressed by the name of "Nutritive Ratio." An examination of the subsequent short description of our feeding experiments will show, for instance, that the corn meal, we fed, contained one part of digestible nitrogenous matter, to 8.76 parts of digestible non nitrogenous organic matter, making the customary allowance for the higher physiological value of the fat as compared with that of starch, sugar, etc., (2.5 times higher). The "Nutrative Ration" of the corn meal is consequently stated as follows 1:8.76. Our different combinations of fodder articles to constitute the daily diet during different feeding periods vary as far as their nutritive ratios are concerned from 1:6.7 to 1:10.17. The closer relation (1:6.7) was obtained by an exceptionally large amount of roots, with hay and wheat bran without corn meal, and the wider relation (1:10.17) by feeding a liberal amount of corn ensilage with bay and corn meal without wheat bran. A closer relation of nitrogenous and non nitrogenous digestible constituents of an otherwise suitable fodder mixture is considered more necessary for growing animals and dairy cows than for full grown animals and moderately worked horses and oxen. German investigators recommend for dairy cows a diet, which conforms to a nutritive ration of 1:5.4. Arrangements will be made during the coming winter season to repeat our feeding experiment with essentially the same coarse fodder articles, but modified by a suitable increase and addition of concentrated feedstuffs to secure a daily diet of a closer nutritive ratio, than has been used on the present occasion. An examination of the subsequent tabulated statement of the results of our experiments shows among other interesting facts, the marked influence of the feeding of dried corn fodder and of corn ensilage as a substitute for a part of the English hay, on the cost of the production of milk.. Not less striking is the beneficial influence of a moderate amount of roots, as a substitute for a part of the hay, on the quality of milk. A numerical expression of the influence of the yield of milk in case of different cows, as well as at different milking periods of the same cow under the same system of feeding, on the cost of its production may not be without some interest, when entering upon a serious discussion of the question, What kind of cows ought to be removed from our dairy stock in the interest of good economy? RECORD OF DAISY. COST OF FEED PER QUART OF MILK. 1.35c 1.07c .97c 1.76c 1.60c, 1.84c 1.76c 1.61c 1.67c 1.37c 1.39c 2.64c 1.02 2.24 1.99 2.32 2.25 | 1.84 1.83 1.37 1.33 2.51 Water, 87.56 87.65 88.08 86.18 86.62 86.78 85.81 85.97 87.02 87.10 86.75 87.59 12.44 12.35 11.92 13.82 13.38 13.22 14.19 14.03 12.98 12.90 13.25 12.41 3.28 3.56 2.29, 4.58 4.30 4.30 4.54, 4.93 4.05 4.20 4.62 3.79 Fat (in solids), MOLLIE. 87.16 87.35 87.67 86.35 87.04 87.06 86.61 86.33 87.30 87.25 86.50 87.26 12.84 12.65 12.33 13.65 12.96 13.94 13.39 13.67 12.70 12.75 13.50 12.74 3.82 3.59 3.73 4.28 3.74 4.75 4.03 4.51) 3.96 4.24 4.36 3.68 |