544 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



FEEDING THE DAIRY COWS. 



The year 1912-13 has been satisfactory for pasture. Grass started fairly early in 

 the spring, but suffered considerably from drought during July and early August. 

 The heavy rains of September, however, made exceedingly good pasture. 



SUMMER FEEDING. 



As in previous years, the dairy cattle were allowed only a small area for pasture, 

 and were compelled to depend largely upon soiling crops and corn silage. As pasture, 

 there was available only a little over 19 acres. This afforded forage for nearly a 

 month, and was so charged. 



In July and parts of August and September, soiling crops, consisting of clover, 

 mixed peas and oats and green corn, were fed either in the stables or in pasture. 



Corn ensilage for feeding in August had been provided in 1911. 



Meal was fed during the entire summer, as needed by cows in milk, and dry cows 

 and pregnant heifers in low condition. 

 t As formerly, during the early part of summer, the cows were in the field during 



the daytime and stabled at night, but during the heat of midsummer, and as flies 

 became more troublesome, they were housed during the day and kept in pasture at 

 night. 



WINTER FEEDING. 



The winter feeding was carried on under quite as favourable conditions as the 

 summer. Feed was plentiful and of good quality. Cattle entered the barns in good 

 flesh and did well. 



The winter ration was on the average about as follows: — 



Hay. 5 pounds. 



Corn ensilage 30 " 



Roots 10 " 



Straw 4 " 



Meal 7 " 



The meal mixture consisted of a mixture of 600 pounds bran; 300 pounds 

 gluten; 200 pounds dried brewers' grains; and 200 pounds cottonseed meal. 



The hay was mixed red clover and timothy. The com silage was of good 

 quality, rich in grain and well preserved. 



The roots were mangels, sugar mangels, sugar beets and turnips. They were 

 usually pulped and mixed with the ensilage. 



The straw was, of course, oat, and owing to rains during harvest was of poor 

 feeding quality. It was cut and mixed with the pulped roots and ensilage. 



The meal was scattered on the roughage mixture of roots, ensilage and cut 

 straw, after it was before the cattle. The hay given was fed uncut, after the other 

 material had been cleaned up. 



Generally speaking, the milch cow is allowed all the roughage she will consume. 

 Meal is given in proportion to milk produced. If a cow responds freely and pro- 

 fitably to an increase of meal, she is fed more liberally up to the point where profit 

 ceases. Many cows, recently fresh, will profitably consume one pound of meal to 

 every three pounds of milk produced. However, at average prices paid the farmer 

 for dairy produce, this would leave but little profit. A fair standard, and one which 

 is giving us good results is: 1 pound meal fed for every 4 pounds milk produced. 



Aside from the milk produced, there are three great factors which must influ- 

 ence the amounts of meal fed, namely, its richness, palatability, and variety. The 



