350 Bureau of Fakmeks' Institutes. 



Which Is the best time to feed grain to milch cows, before or after 

 feedinK fodder? 



Mr. Gould. — :It does not make much difiference, but I prefer to 

 feed it before; do not feed it while she is eatinj^ roughage; if you 

 have not fed it before, wait till after you are through milking. 



Does GO or 70 pounds of ensilage, one of pea meal, three of beau meal 

 and four of mixed feed, make a good ration? 



Mr. Gould. — To guess, I would say there was enough protein in 

 such a formula to balance the ration. 



Does it pay to weigh and test milk? 



Mr. Ward. — I believe that a man ought to weigh and test each 

 cow's milk, so as to be able to weed out all the poor ones. 



Mr. Jerry Clarke. — I had 11 cows which made me |100 worth of 

 butter each, in a 3'ea.r. I also sold a pair of oxen for |.300. They 

 were Holsteins, too. One man here says that there is no such 

 thing as a general purpose cow, but I know better. Mine not 

 only brought me good results in butter, but calves also. 



What effect will buckwheat brau have on a cow in calf? 



Mr. Cook. — I would feed buckwheat middlings in place of the 

 bran, but I would not feed them exclusively. It is better to 

 add some wheat bran or gluten. Then too, the nature of the 

 course fodder must be considered; the best of which, for such a 

 cow, is corn ensilage if we are to feed these grains. We want to 

 balance the ration, and, a cow in calf, must be fed so as to perfect 

 the calf as well as to keep the mother in good condition; so. then, 

 there must be protein to furnish blood and growth for the un- 

 born calf, as well as for the mother. 



What is the proper ration to be fed with timothy hay for butter? 



Mr. Cook. — Timothy hay is a carbonaceous food and will not 

 produce much milk, if fed alone. To get best results from it, one 

 should feed the protein foods such has have been recommended 

 here, viz., wheat bran, buckwheat middlings, gluten, linseed meal 

 and oats and peas, always taking into consideration the indi- 

 viduality of the cow, then feeding accordingly. 



