Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-22

We are indebted to Professor Dole, OF
Norwich University. Mortified for the fol
lowing report of some interesting expert
ments in feeding cows
NonruFirlp, Vt, February Il, 1876
Ny B.dr Sri have been experimenting a
little in feeding mich cows. Perhaps the result
may be ot interest to some ol your readers.
have three COWS which am feeding for the
double purpose of getting mills, and at the same
time faitonug the animals for beef. They are
all farrow, one Of them has been so for two
years They belong to the common breed and
have been what would be called good mixers At
the time commenced feeding they certainly did
not give milk enough to pay for the hay they ate.
My object in experimenting was TO find out, as
near as possible, tho most profitable feed, be-
gan the experiment December 9th aud continued
it four weeks, with the following results.
The feed the first week, was eight pounds Of
Shorts, ono-half bushcl Of sugar bects, and ten
pounds Of hay per day to each COW. ! fed the
shorts night and morning, four pounds at time
The beets were given at noon. They we're fed all
the hay they would eatup clean, three times aday
Thus, the first week, fed the three cows two hun-
bred and ten pounds ofhay one hundred and sixty
eight pounds Of shorts and ten and onc-half bnsh-
els OF bcets. The hay Was Of very poor quality.
/ estimate the cost as follows: one hundred and
sxty-esht pounds Of shorts at twenty-five dollars
per ton, two dollars and ten cents; two hundred
and ten pounds Of hay at twelve dollars per ton,
one dollar and twenty-six cents; ten and one-half
bushels OF bcets at fifteen cents per bushel one
dollar and fifty-scyen cents Total, four dollars
and nincty-thrcc cents We got three hundred
aud seventy uine pounds Of milk making sixteen
and onc-half pounds ofbutter, taking euty-three
pounds Of milk to make one pound Of butter. The
butter was OF the best quality and at thirty cents
per pound would bring four dollars and ninety
five cents. There was In addition the skim milk,
and steady gain Of the cows in flesh
The second week the feed was the same as the
first, with this cepton-instead Of feeding eight
pounds of shorts gave them eight pounds Of feed,
composed one-half each of corn meal and shorts
/ This week we got three hundred and ninety-four
pounds of milk and eighteen and one-half pounds
Of butter, or one pound FOR little over twenty
one pounds Of milk The cost Of feed this week,
calling corn as Ibid, two dollars per hundred was
1--WE dollars and hfty-siN cents, The butter was
worth thirty cents per pound, five dollars and
ifty-iiye cents
The third week the feed was the same the
first, with the exception OF feeding bran instead
Of shorts Amount OF mill, this week, three hun
bred and eghty-pounds Both butter aud milk
same first week
Fourth week same as second, only using bran
in place Of shorts MIX this week. four hundred
and eight pounds butter, nineteen pounds Cost
Of feed same rs second week, five dollars and
diiy-sx cents butter worth fi,e dollar and
seventy cents.
have not tried corn meal alone grain feed
but from former experience am convinced that
il is not as valuable for milk rs either bran
alone or bran and corn meal mixed In equal parts.
have do doubt, from the above results and my
observations since that no better feed can De
given cows than corn meal and bran mixed.
The cows have not only more than paid their
keeping in milk, but have steadily gained in flesh,
and are now fair beef Had only fed oommon
hay, such as had, they would not have paid their
keeping Perhaps should state that all the feed
was scalded, and then cold water added, making o
pailfu at time for each COW The butter made
was very nice far better than it would have been
with only hay for fodder am satisfied that
bran is fully equal 10 shorts in value, and to mix
with corn it is better With bran at twenty-five
dollars per ton, and corn at forty dollars would
use as much corn as bran, and feed them mixed
have said little about the roots feed my object
being to determine the best kind Of grain or feed
to buy But so well satisfied am with the re-
suit Of feeding roots that would not on any ae-
count be without them Every farmer would find
1t 10 his advantage TO raise from seycnty-fye TO
one hundred bushels Tot every COW
CuARLrs Dom