Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-09
Agricultural Department.
Feeding for Milk.

Agricultural Department.
Feeding for Milk.
Prof. Dole. of Norwich University,
VT, gave the result of an experiment
in feeding milch cows, to the Vermont
going to prove the special
value of corn meal and bran in the
production of milk. We condense his
report somewhat, as follows:
l had three cows, which I was feed
ing for the double purpose of getting
milk, and at the same time fattening
the animals for beef. They were all
farrow, one of them had been so for
two years. They belonged to the com.
mon breed, and were what are called
good mixers. At the time l began
feeding them they did not give enough
to pay for the hay they ate. My OBJ
ject in experimenting was to find out,
as nearly as possible, the most prolita.
ble feed. continued the trial for four
weeks, with the following result:
The feed the first week was s lbs. of
''shorts,' half a bushel of sugar beets,
and 10 lbs. of hay per day to each COW.
I fed the shorts night and morning,
lbs. at time. The beets were given
at noon. They were fed all the hay
they would eat up clean, three times a
day. Thus, the first week l fed the
three COWS 2lO lbs. of hay, 1853 lbs. of
shorts, and 10 l-2 bushels of beets.
The hay was of poor quality. | esti-
mated the cost as follows: l6S lbs. of
shorts at $25 per ton, $2.l0; 2lO lbs.
of hay at $l2 per ton, $1.26 ; IL l.2
bushels of beets at Is cts. per bushel,
$1.57. Total, $4.93. We got $40 lbs.
milk, making Is l-3 lbs. of butter, TAX
ing % lbs. of milk to make lb. of but
ter. The butter was of the best quail.
ity, and at 30 cts. lb. would bring
$4.95. There was in addition the
skinned milk, and steady gain OF
the COW in flesh.
In the second week the feed was the
same as the first, with this exception
instead of feeding s lbs. of shorts,
gave them 8 lbs. of feed, composed
half each of corn meal and shorts
This week l got 364 lbs. of milk and
Is l-2 lbs of butter, or one III. for lit
tie over 2l lbs. of milk. The cost OF
feed this week counting corn as did
So per hundred, was 1906. The but
ter was worth at 80 cents per h., 1856
The third week was the same as thu
first, with the exception of feedin:
bran instead of shorts. Amount O.
milk this week, $50 lbs; both butte,
and milk same as first week.
| Fourth week same rs second, onl,
using bran instead Of shorts. Milk thi
week, 480 lbs; butter 10 lbs. Cost o
feed same as second week, 5.65; but
ter worth $3.50.
Il have not tried corn meal alon
us grain feed. but from former expe
, rience I am convinced that it is no
. as valuable for milk as either bra
alone or bran and corn meal mixed i
equal parts.
have no doubt, from the above re
suits and my obervations since, tia
no better feed can be given cows tina
: corn meal and bran mixed. The COW
! have not only more than paid thei
$ keeping in milk, but have steadily gail
S ed in flesh, and are now fair beef.
:. l had only fed my cows common la.
! such as had, they would not la,
!. paid their keeping. Perhaps shou]
:. state that all the feed was scalded, an
n cold water added, making a pailful ;
a time per COW. The butter was mac
t very nice, far better than it wOu]
= have been with only hay for fodder.
:. am satisfied that bran is fully equ
O to shorts in value, and to mix wit
e corn it is better. With bran at $25
). ton, and corn at $40, l would use ;
u much corn as bran, and feed the
) mixed. l have said little about ro
Il feed, my object being to determine tt
l. best kind of grain or feed to buy. B
I. 50 we'll satisfied am with the resu
lt of feeding roots that 1 would not I
Is any account be without them. Eve
H. farmer will find it to his advantage
I. raise from IS to 100 bushels per We
~ for every cow.