Show LEGUMES FOR FOB DAIRY HERD ARE SUPERIOR Higher Average e of f Milk Yield Ob Ob- Obtained Obtained tamed From Alfalfa Well Worth While White for Farmers In One District to Study Feeding Practices Practices tices of Other Districts Districts Best Best to Correct Soil Sail Prepared by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- m ment nt of ot Agriculture That profits nifty mry tl be hg j creased by the substitution of ot legume legume- for a large part vart of the concentrates concentrate Jo iii o U the e dalry tion Is brought out b by I Contesting stIng jesting association records o ob- ob tamed b by the dairy division The r rec records from six associations where al alfalfa alfalfa al- al falfa formed a large part of the dairy ration was compared with the records from eight associations where legumes were fed sparingly with the following results In the alfalfa district the cost of crun was 10 16 per cent of the total feed cost and in the other district the cost of grain was 41 per per cent of the thc total feed cost The average milk yield of tile the fed alfalfa cows was pounds nd i the ayera average e yield of butter butterfat butterfat butterfat fat was Sl 1 pounds In rn n the other district dIstrict district dis dIs- the average milk yield v was is pounds and the average yield of butterfat butterfat but- but was pounds For the alfalfa alfalfa- fed ed cows the thc average Income over o cost of feed was 73 13 and for the grain fed cows the average Income over o cost of ot feed was 37 31 37 The fed alfalfa cows ma may have been better etter cows and the climate may have been better adapted to dairying but butas butas as ns both districts are favorably fa known for tor their dairy products It may be assured that thu t the cows w were re of good quality and well cared for in both dis dis- It seems fair therefore to conclude conclude conclude con con- clude that the higher production and greater Income above feed cost of the fed alfalfa fed cows was Jue juc largely to the feeding of home grown legumes In any case It t Is well worth while for the farmers of one district to study the feeding deeding practices of other districts If It legumes add to net profits why not grow and feed more legumes If It the soil soli Is not adapted to legumes It may pay to add lime or manure or whatever whatever whatever what what- ever else It lacks In order that the dairy herd may be supplied with an abundance of ot home grown legumes |