Demonstrators — 85,000 to 100,000 strong — turned out in force again Saturday for what Madison police say was the largest crowd since protests began against Gov. Scott Walker's efforts to strip most state employees of most collective bargaining rights and other proposals for balancing the state budget began more than three weeks ago.

Adding a twist to the now-familiar rallying cries of unions and others calling for Walker's ouster was a parade of tractors driven by Wisconsin farmers who circled the Capitol to support union workers and oppose other measures in Walker's proposed budget — including cuts they fear will have a negative effect on their health care coverage.

"We had 85,000 to 100,000 people, 50 tractors and a donkey, and it all went well from a police perspective," said Madison Police spokesman Joel DeSpain, who again thanked people for their peaceful exercise of democracy and their patience. "Just getting around Downtown was a bit problematic."

Capitol police estimated Saturday's crowd peaked at a little more than 68,000, said spokesman Tim Donovan. He explained the discrepancy saying Madison police might have been "counting people we weren't" who were spread out farther from the Capitol.

Both agencies said there were no arrests.