The Role of Water in a Dairy Cow\u27s Ration

In connection with the investigations by this department on \u27\u27The Effect of Alkali Water on Dairy Cows and Dairy Products\u27\u27 it became evident that the information on the functions of water in the ration of a dairy cow was meager. Furthermore, during this work some clews were obtained which the investigators desired to carry to a conclusion. . . . It is the object of the investigation reported in this bulletin to study the effects of watering the cow at different intervals and in varying amounts upon the amount of food consumed, digestibility of nutrients, amount and composition of feces and urine, amount and composition of milk, composition and quality of butterfat, body temperature and physical condition of cows. Incidentally, the bulletin furnishes some data on the mineral metabolism of the cow