The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-11-20
MEALS IN THE MILK RATION.
Estimates on the Amount of Milk Produced
by Certain Courses of Feeding.

Estimates on the Amount of Milk ProdaceG
by Certain Courses OF Feeding.
To test the principle that has been
very emphatically laid down by Ger
man Investigators, and somewhat wide
" accepted in this country, that a lib
eral supply of digestible protein is the
main thing to be looked after in the
ration for mich cows, tests have re-
! Gently been made at the Wisconsin Elk.
pertinent Station. The first ration con-
sisted of clover-hay and cornmeal, and
had one part of digestible protein to
about eight of digestible matters of
other kinds. In the second ration cot
tOnseed oil meal was substituted for a
for a part of the cornmeal in such
| quantities that the ration should con-
tain the same total of digestible mat
tiers. but at the same time a larger pro-
portion of protein-one part of this to
about five of other digestible matters.
In the third ration malt sprouts were
put in the place of the cottonseed meal
in such quantity as to leave the proper
ton of protein and of total digestible
matters unchanged.
If the principle stated in the begin
ming be correct, the second and third
ration should yield more or better milk,
or both, than the first. In estimating
the effect of the ration, due allowance
was made for the natural falling off in
the yield of milk as the period of lacta-
ton advanced, and for the gradually in
creasing temperature with the advance
of the seasOn-two opposing tendencies
which partially but not entirely neutral
lied each other. The results were not
favorable to the principle tested. On
| the second ration there was very slight
gain, which could be credited to the
ration, and on the third ration very
Slight loss in Weld. There was not, as
we should have expected, notable gain
on the second ration, continued on the
third
1t will be rem ambcred that the inten-
ton was, in making up the rations, tC
have the same total of digestible matter
of all kinds in every one; but when the
separate digestion feeding experiments
with the Todd erS used in these milk ex-
perimentS were finished it was found
that the second ration contained little
larger total of these matters than did
the first, Will the third contained lit
tie less. If now it be supposed that the
yield of milk depends especially and
mostly on the quantity of digestihle
matters of all kinds, it is explained why
about the sane quantity of milk was cb-
tanned on thase three ratiOns, but lit
tie more on the second than on the first,
and little less on the third than on the
first
Attention is very properly called in
the bulletin to the Importance OF furth 81
tests of the correctness of this SUPPOSE
ton. Oil-mealS of all kinds, such as
linseed and cottonseed, have been highly
praised for use in the milk rations. he
cause of their richness in protein: but if
general richness in digestible matters is
just as useful for the purpose mentioned,
then the cheaper corn meal, which con-
tainS. pound for pound, about as much
digeStible substance as cOttOnseed oil
meal, can be as well used in the milk
ration. In this connection it should be
further noticed that the tests of the milk
as to quality, and butter yield on churn-
inc. failed to show any unmistakable
Improvement on the more expensive oil
meal ration. DR.. q. c. CaidUetL, t1
". y. Tribune.