The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-10-05

Experiment. with Dairy C0WA
Grooming Cows.-Last year and the
year previous tests were made at the
Vermont Experiment Station to de-
termine the effect Of grooming COWS.
The results in either case were not
very favorable. The published sum
mary Of results states that q unit
Of total and. Of ~digestible dry matter
yielded four per cent less when the
cows were groomed than when they
were kept uncarded. and that there
was practically no difference in the
quality Of the milk given under the
two conditions. The conclusion
reached is that grooming should lessen
the bacterial content of a cows milk.
but Is not likely to add to its amount
or its fat content.
Watering Cows at VILLA test was
made to determine the effect of al
lowing COWS to drink at will as OPP
posed to the practice Of watering
them at regular intervals. -Four ma
ture cows were selected for the test.
and the amount of water drank was
weighed in each case. The results
showed that the cows that drank
whenever they wished and in such
quantities as they desired, made no
more and no better milk than when
they drank but twice daily.
Warm VS.. Cold Water.-The report
OF the results Of an experiment in
warming water for dairy COWS states
that increase in the consumption OF
water when warmed was universally
observed. The cold water was drunk
freely in November and May
than in the intervening months. At
all other times it was drunk much less
freely than the warmed water. the
increased consumption of water when
warmed averaging from 8 to % per
cent. This increase in consumption.
however, resulted in no increase in the
milk flow or decrease in Its quality.
In other words, the COW did not water
her milk by increased drinking.
Excessive Amounts Of Single Nu-
neutrality-suspicious. were undertaken
to determine the effect Of adding to
a standard ration excessive amounts
Of a single nutrient. It was found
that an excess Of protein atlantic
gluten flour) had but slight effect ON
the quantity and none upon the quality
Of the milk flow. A 10 per cent ex-
cess Of carbohydrates in the form Of
a n sugar also had but slight eject
upon the quantity and none on the
quality of the milk flow. The add
ton Of a solid fat (palm oily had q
pronounced effect upon the quality OF
the flow, increasing the total solids z
per cent and the fat z per cent. The
increase appeared to be a permanent
one. In similar trials reported a year
ago cottonseed oil was found to in
crease the fat content Of milk per-
manently to the extent of 20 to .3O
per cent. Emulsifed corn and lnseed
oils depressed the fat percentages.
Financial considerations did not enter
into these tests. as the protein, 'carbo-
hydrates and fats added were so cost
ly Is to make very expensive rations
Eject OF Large Grain Rations.-Io
determine the effect Of large grain
rations. four, eight and twelve pounds
Of different grain rations were fed at
different times, with hay and silage.
The results from a financial stand
point showed that an increase Of grain
from four pounds to eight, or to twelve
pounds, seldom yielded enough more
butter to pay the cost Of the extra
grain. In practically every case. how
ever, there was enough more skim
milk and enough better manure made
to more than Offset the extra expense
for grain. When the %by-products are
considered the profit was each time in
favor of the eight-pound ration as
compared with the four-pound and
generally in favor Of the twelve-pound
as compared with the eight-pound ra-
ton.