TiiiETY-sixTH Annual Convention 991 



recognize the fact, even tliougli it may appear scientific, that milk 

 is composed of four constituents in addition to water, namely, 

 protein, carbohydrates, fat and mineral matter. There never 

 was a pound of milk made by a cow from anything except food 

 which she had formerly consumed. Xo cow, great as she may 

 seem, is a mysterious being. She cannot make something out of 

 nothing. It is, therefore, essential to provide her with such food 

 in such quantities, with daily regularity, that her body may be 

 maintained and a sufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates, fat 

 and mineral matter remain that she may have available the raw 

 material necessary to stimulate her greatest production. 



It is not my purpose, however, to go into detail relative to the 

 analysis of milk and foodstuffs, nor is it my belief that it 

 would be to your advantage for me to prescribe certain rations to 

 be used upon your herds. Were you to begin at once feeding 

 your herds a ration seemingly perfect, although there might come 

 certain improvements, the results would not be satisfactory. This 

 is due to the fact that cows differ so greatly in individuality and, 

 furthermore, one and the same cow differs so greatly from period 

 to period. In other words, the ration that might be perfect for 

 one cow would be inefficient for another, and the ration perfect 

 for a certain cow would not bo conducive to greatest results at 

 another period of lactation. 



To attain maximum results it is absolutely necessary to study, 

 care for and feed every cow individually. On first thought this 

 would seem to incur much additional labor, but a trial will prove 

 that very little extra time is required and that the extra effort will 

 result in profits far greater than any work that is now being 

 done. It is not unreasonable to expect that the response on the 

 part of most cov/s in the herd will be sufficient to almost if not 

 quite double the yield of the herd as a whole, and by following a 

 systematic plan those cows which do not respond are detected, 

 enabling their owner to dispose of them and fill their places with 

 animals more efficient. 



Calling to mind the fact that the motherly instincts are those 

 which account for milk-giving properties of the cow and are 

 greatest during the first few weeks after freshening, it becomes 

 evident that greatest production can be attained at that time. To 



