The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-02-01
TESTING O.''|RY ANIMALS
WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
IN cows.
Experiment Shows That Amount OF
Food Consumed and Utilized Is
Index to Milk Production.

When one COW produces twice or
three times as much milk in year as
does another, with the same -opportu-
mites, the question arises as to just
what is the difference in the two ami
mails that makes one produce better.
In this problem is tied up a great deal
OF the success or failure of dairying.
An extensive experiment under the
direction of Professor G.. H. Eckles
OF the Dairy Department at the Uni
versty OF Missouri, has practically
solved the problem as far as men are
able to go. Four COWS were carefully
fed on analysed feeds, and a record OF
the exact amounts eaten was kept.
The amount of milk from each COW
was weighed and analysed. The ex-
creta from the COWS was also ana
lyzed TO determine whether or not
there was waste in digestion. Much
interesting data was accumulated, and
Professor EciIles gives out some con-
clusions on the differences in the mer-
its OF COWS.
\ certain amount of feed. it is
found, is required 10 maintain the
body processes and supply energy Tor
the work of simply keeping alive. In
two COWS which produced widely diff
ferent amounts of milk, it was found
that the maintenance requirements
were practically the same. So that
could not be the reason for the diff
terence.
scstion. but the analyses showed lit
tie difference at this Point.
Many details were tried out and ex-
amined, and it was found that there
was practically direct relation be-
tween the amount of milk given and
the amount of feed eaten above the
maintenance requirement.
The requirement of a good COW,
therefore, is that she ue able to eat
a large quantity Of food and convert
it INTO milk The aAount required
70 keep her alive 1vilf be about the
same, whether she gives milk or not.
Btlt if she is not able to eat much
more than the amount absolutely nee
tssary. she has little hope as milk
producer,
IN new COW. this capacity for feed
can be guessed at by the size and
shape of her barrel" 1t is always
large ard roomy in a good COW, .ndi-
eating plenty of space for storage OF
food. A strong appetite and rug
sed constitution are essentials for the
high producing COW.
Beyond being able to tell which
COW VIII give the best results and
knowing thai it is because Of a SUI
periOr capacity tor feed, man has not
leen able to go Why one COW has
this capacity, while another OF as
good breeding sometimes fails, no
one can yet tell. At present the best
the farmer and dairyman can do is
20 pick the Cow that is doing or will
DO the work. keep record OF all, and
throw out the poor ones, and let the
question OF why they 90 it remain
tor the future.
Every COW is enough Il chemist to
show whether or not she is receiving
proper ration. Corn fodder has it's
place, but usually it is not good feed
for high-producing dairy COWS, Glover
and alfalfa hay, or co"pea hay, are
almost the first things to think OF
when planning to feed dairy COW.
She gives Off large amount of pure
protein in her milk, ana she must
have a large amount in her feed or
she will either waste away in flesh
or slow up on the milk. 1t pays bet
ter TO give her the feed she needs.