Agriculture of Vermont Volume 5; Biennial Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 Excerpt: ...of digestible protein. An inspection of the column devoted to the cost of 100 therms of energy reveals the fact that corn is the cheapest energy feed, followed in order by cottonseed meal, gluten feed, and distillers' dried grains. A combination of cottonseed meal, the cheapest protein feed, and corn, the cheapest energy feed, would therefore give a grain mixture having the greatest feeding value for the least amount of money, but since both corn and cottonseed are heavy feeds the addition of a light bulky feed like distillers' grains is advisable. We then have the basis for an economical grain mixture. Other feeds may be added if desired to give variety to the grain mixture. The cheapest protein roughage is clover hay which furnishes 100 lbs. of digestible protein for $16.60. Timothy hay, owing to its low percentage of digestible nutrients and its high market price charges the enormous price of $48.80 for 100 lbs. of digestible protein. Clover hay is also a more economical roughage for energy than is timothy hay. Corn silage furnishes both protein and energy at a low cost. It is therefore evident that a combination of clover hay and corn silage furnishes the best and cheapest roughage for Vermont dairymen. Time does not permit me to discuss the formation of balanced rations. Those interested in the formulating of rations suited to the exact needs of the cow will find Vermont Experiment Station bulletins 152 and 158 very helpful.-Bulletin 137 discusses various phases of stock feeding and Dairy Husbandry; No. 144 deals with the economics of feeding and gives several formulas of grain mixtures for dairy cows, horses, and poultry; and No. 164 discusses the use and abuse of condimental stock feeds. All of these bulletins may be had for the asking and are pertin...