AMPLE WATER SUPPLY

Shannon News, 13 April 1928, Page 2

AMPLE WATER SUPPLY

EFFECT ON MILK YIELD. * What effect the installation of waterbowls has on the milk yield was the subject of experiments carried out at Reaseheath (Cheshire), Cannington (Sotherset), Usk (Mon), and Plumpton (Sussex) last winter. The scheme of the trial was that two lots of cows should be selected so that they were as even as possible, and so that none of the cows would have to be dried off during the experiment] Both lots were fed and treated exactly alike, oxccpt that one lot had water-bowls installed and the other not. Both lots were turned out twice a day (or according to custom) for exercise and water, this being the only time the cows not provided with wa-ter-bowls had access to water. The trials extended over two periods of five weeks each, with a week’s interval between the two. One lot had the wa-ter-bowls for the first period, and for the second period the lots wore changed over.

In points of milk yield, the results' show that there was an advantage derived from the use of the bowls at three out of four centres. At Reaseheath, however, the yield was slightly less

with the water-bowls than without. All round, there was an increase of 1 per cent, in favour of the bowls. There were no differences to be notfcd in point of butter-fat percentage or the condition of the cows. It would not be fair, states the report, to suggest that the influence of water-bowls was as limited as the results of the trial indicate. In the first place, herds at farm institutes are probably watered with greater convenience and regularity than is normally the case. Furthermore, quite apart from yield, the use of water-bowls has decided advantages in that they save labour and give a cleaner and more wholesome supply than is usually available. Most types* of bowls are easy to work and keep clean, and the cows take to them readily. In the opinion of those responsible for the experiment, the installation of water-bowls is desirable, if practicable in cases where a clean, wholesome, and sufficient supply is not available when the cows are turned out to water.