The Question Box. 345 



I mean that made from matured corn and stored in a frost-proof, 

 air-tight silo; not ensilage that is sour or moldy. 



How large ration do you recommend for a good butter cow? 



Mr. Baker of Schenevus. — Once we have a good cow, she should 

 be fed all she will eat, assimilate and digest of good milk-pro- 

 ducing foods, no more; if she is, the extra food will be thrown 

 away. We should begin with the calf by feeding it properly, 

 and the foods should be those that will stimulate the milk pro- 

 ducing organs and thus develop them, else they will remain dor- 

 mant, the milk-producing functions destroyed in part at least, 

 and the calf be forced to lay on fat. When this course is pursued 

 with the calf, the habit cannot be changed when cowhood has 

 been reached. 



Mr. Van Alstyne agreed with Mr. Baker, and said he had been 

 breeding up his herd, with the view of producing butter fat and 

 had got the herd up to 5 per cent. fat. That point having been 

 reached, he did not want to go higher. He did not believe it pos- 

 sible to maintain a higher per cent, of fat and keep up the milk 

 flow. As a rule, the Jersey breeders are looking after more milk 

 and a little less fat; while the Holstein breeders are after less 

 milk and more fat. If however, he can secure 7 per cent, cows 

 together with a proportionate quantity of milk, when compared 

 with good 5 per cent, cows, he was ready to invest in them. 



Mr. Cass said he disagreed with Mr. Van Alstyne. He had 

 cows that are giving a good flow of 7 per cent, milk; if he could 

 get mo?e than that, he wanted it. 



Mr. Van Alstyne. — How many pounds of milk do your 7 per 

 cent, cows give per day? 



Mr. Cass. — I don't know; I don't weigh milk, I weigh butter; 

 but they give enough milk to make 3 pounds of butter per day. 



Can we afford to feed the cow on hay and grass alone? 



Mr. Cook. — I would not want to feed the cow alone on either 

 one, but I should want to see the hay. If there were a reasonable 

 amount of clover in it, I think one could feed a full ration of hay. 

 If you have no ensilage, about 20 pounds a day would be a proper 

 feed. The question is a very indefinite one. 



