500 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE, 



A couple of examples along this line will make clearer what is meant. 

 Let us take timothy hay: Cost— Usually high in price. It can always be 

 had on the market if sutficient is not raised. 



Is it palatable? Cows will eat it with relish. 



Can it be preserved? Timothy hay under favorable conditions will keep 

 for years. 



Is it concentrated or bulky? Bulky, a coarse fodder. 



Is it effective? Not reputed to be of special value as a cow feed; not 

 the best milk producer. 



Can I secure a desirable substitute? Clover hay, alfalfa or corn stover 

 may replace timothy to advantage in a dairy ration. 



Then we would rule out timothy hay from our ration on cost, in- 

 efficiency, and availability of a substitute. 



Now, gluten feed: Cost— Cheap for protein content, the expensive ele- 

 ment of a dairy ration. 



Is available in the vicinity of starch factories, and may be shipped 

 long distances if a freight rate can be secured that will keep the cost 

 within its value. 



Is it palatable? No; but if mixed with bran or corn and cobmeal and 

 fed carefully cows will eat it. 



Can it be preserved? It will keep almost as well as bran, and is a 

 concentrated feed. 



Is it effective? As a milk-producer it is one of the best concentrated 

 feeds on the market. 



Substitutes may be had. The raising of soys, cowpeas and alfalfa 

 will provide a home-grown substitute. 



And thus we take up in detail each feed in selecting a dairy ration. 



Among the common daii-y feeds we may mention clover and timothy 

 hay, corn stover (stalks), corn fodder (ear and stalk), corn, coi'nmeal, corn 

 and cobmeal, hominy meal, gluten feed, gluten meal, wheat bran, wheat 

 middlings, oil meal, oats, barley, rye, brewers' grains and silage. 



Clover hay, when cut at the right time and properly cured, should con- 

 stitute a part of every dairy ration. In sections where alfalfa can be 

 grown and clover can not, alfalfa should replace clover hay, as it is 

 richer in protein, that expensive and essential food element in dairy 

 rations. 



Timothy hay is often used as a dairy feed, but is not, specially fitted 

 for the purpose. It will often pay to change it for clover or a concen- 

 trated feed, such as bran or gluten feed. 



Corn stover (stalks and blades) is a cheap, bulky feed; can be had on 

 any farm where corn is raised, and should constitute a part of every daily 

 ration, because it is more valuable as a feed than as a fertilizer. It 

 should be cut or shredded. 



Corn fodder (ear and stalk) should rarely constitute a part of a dairy 



