THE DAIRY COW, HER FEEDING AND CARE. 4I 



food rich in bone and muscle mailing material, and containing 

 plenty of bulk and organic matter. The corn field can be made 

 to furnish the larger part of this feed. Oats, the clovers, and 

 wheat bran will fill the bill for the remainder. By shortening 

 the rotation, increasing tillage, and applying farm manures 

 economically, the fodder crops of the farm will be increased, 

 their variety widened, and their quality improved. Then in the 

 case of the heifer, nature's laws should govern. Plenty of light, 

 air and exercise must be given. The man who renews his herd 

 with heifers kept in close confinement, and away from nature's 

 sunlight and fresh air, will find it constantly losing in vitality, 

 and in producing and reproductive powers. The lungs and 

 heart must be developed by plenty of pure air and exercise, 

 which at the same time increases the appetite. Then the diges- 

 tive functions must be developed by plenty of nutritious rough- 

 age, with roots and grain to balance it. 



Early maturity leads to premature decay, therefore do not 

 breed the heifer till she has attained sufficient maturity to enable 

 her to maintain her own physical powers and at the same time 

 produce vigorous young. The size of vegetables and cereals 

 is lessened as their period of maturing is lessened, through the 

 selection of the earliest seed. The size of any breed of animals 

 will be lessened by the breeding of the females at an immature 

 age, and if early maturity is encouraged, the decadence will be 

 the more rapid and sure. 



We now come to the feeding and care of the cow, in the 

 working dairy. Conditions have changed. The animal 

 has begun its life work. Its value is measured by its produc- 

 tive capacity, and this capacity is increased as the comfort of 

 the cow is studied. Here, we must have light, warmth, good 

 air but closer quarters. She has grown in the open, with exer- 

 cise extending her capacity and developing her usefulness ; now 

 as she begins her life work, all unfavorable influences are 

 removed, and her whole surplus strength and energy go into 

 production. 



In selecting foods, the home grown products should be made 

 to form as large a proportion as possible. Abundance, variety 

 and succulence form the trinity of successful dairy feeding 

 everywhere. Abundant feeding every day in the year with 

 those feeds best adapted to the condition of the cow, must be 



