34^ AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



Bran is fed to give bulk to the ration and to supply ash and 

 protein, though it is an expensive source of protein. We give 

 not less than a pound a day, often two pound's, and in heavy ra- 

 tions, sometimes three or four pounds. 



Cottonseed meal is the hardest feed to do without, but we 

 have been obliged to find a substitute this year, and Diamond 

 Gluten has produced very satisfactory results. We always feed' 

 some gluten for the sake of variety, though it is usually a more 

 expensive source of protein than cottonseed, and Diamond Glu- 

 ten is more economical to buy than Buffalo Gluten. 



Corni meal is a very palatable feed and is useful in keeping 

 up the condition of cows that are inclined to put all their feed 

 into the milk pail. Hominy feed makes a good substitute for 

 corn meal, with the added advantage that it is kiln dried, so can 

 be stored without danger of heating, and if the price is not 

 much higher than that of corn meal, it is more economical to 

 buy, because of its small water conttent. 



Dried Distillers' Grains (Ajax Flakes or Fourex) are reason- 

 ably palatable, and add variety and bulk to a ration. They are 

 a much cheaper source of protein than bran, usually comparing 

 fairly well in this respect with cottonseed and gluten. They are 

 especially valuable in giving bulk and variety to a large ration, 

 for a cow giving a big milk flow. Large rations we sometimes 

 divide into three feeds instead of two, giving one feed at noon, 

 but this is done only in special cases. 



Ground oats are too expensive to make a part of the regular 

 rations, but are valuable in starting fresh cows, giving bulk to 

 heavy rations, and conditioning dry cows. The same objection 

 of expense applies to linseed oil meal, which we use under the 

 same conditions as ground oats. If no silage or other succulent 

 feed is available, the laxative qualities of old process oil meal 

 may justify its cost, and it is valuable for calves and growing 

 heifers. It is the safest concentrate to begin on, when working 

 a fresh cow up to full flow. 



Feed flour we use principally in summer, to overcome the too 

 laxative effect of flush pastures. We sometimes add a table- 

 spoonful or two of Swift's Soluble Blood Flour to the ration, 

 for the same purpose, usually in addition to the feed flour. 



In winter, most of our cows are fed all the hay they will 

 clean up promptly, but if a cow is too much inclined to put on 



