Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-01-19
Feeding Tor MIX.

The following shows the result of
experiments recently tried by Prof.
Dole, of Vermont. the object being
to thoroughly test the value Of GER
tam kinds of food, and to discover
the cxac, cost of feeding for given
time:
l had three cows which | was
feeding for the double purpose of
getting milk, and at the same time
tattening the animals for beef. They
were all farrow, one Of them had
been SO for two years. They be-
longed to the common breed, and
were what are call I'd good mixers.
At the time began feeding they
did not give enough to pay for the
hay they ate. My object in experl-
men,ing was to find out rs near a>
possible the most profitable teen.
continued the trial for tour weeks
with the following result:
The feed the first week was eight
pounds of Shorts" half bushcl of
sugar beets, and ten pounds Of hay
per day to each COW. | fed the
shorts highland morning four pounds
III u time. The beets were gwen at
noon. They were fed all the hay
they would eat three times a day.
Thus, the first week | fed the three
cows 2IO pounds Of hay, 16S pounds
of shorts and lo4 bushels of bects.
The hay was Of poor quality. esti-
mated the cost as follows: 1853
pounds of shorts at s25 per ton, 81
10; 2lO pounds of hay at SIP perton,
$l.26; lol bushels Of bects at Is
cents per bushel, sl.57. Total, s4.93.
We got $40 pounds of milk, making
log pounds Of butter, taking %
pounds of milk to one pound Of but
ter The butter was of the hest
quality, and ut 40 cents n pound
would bring s4.95. There was in
addition the skinned milk. aud Il
steady gain of the COWS in flesh.
In the second week the feed was
the same as the first with tlis'excep-
tion-instead of feeding eight
pounds OF Sh rtS, gave them eight
pounds Of feed, composed half each
OF corn meal and shorts. This week
| got 364 pounds of milk and lsa
pounds Of butter, or one pound for
little over 81 pounds of milk. The
butter was worth at 80 ceuts y pound,
1855.
The third week the feed was the
same as the first, with the exception
of feeding bran instead of shorts.
Amount of milk this week, $50
pounds; both butter and milk same
as first week.
Fourth week same rs second, Only
using bran instead of shorts. Milk
this week, 4SO pounds; butter 10
pounds Cost Of feed same IA second
week, 1855; butter worth s5.70.
have not tried cornmcal IL ne as
grain feed, but from former expert
cncc am convinced that it is not rs
valuable for milk as either bran alone
or bran and cornmeal mixed in equal
parts.
| have no doubt, from the above
results and my observations since,
that no better feed can be given
rnws than c1rnlneai 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 common
hay such AZ had, they would not
have paid their keeping. Perhaps
should state that all feed was scald-
ed, and cold water added, making y
paillul ata time per COW. The but
ter was made very nice, far better
than it would have been with only
hay or fodder. | am satisfied that
bran is fully equal to shorts in value,
and to mix with corn it is better.
With bran at S25 per ton, and corn
al $40, | would use us much corn as
bran, and feed them mixed. | have
said little about the roots fed, my
object being to determine the best
kind of grain or feed to buy. Blu,
SO well satisfied am | with the re-
suit OF feeding roots, that would
not on any account be without them.
Every farmer would find it to his
advantage 10 RAISE iraia Eortniy-iise
IA ode hundred hushcli' per year for
every COW.