996 New York State Dairymen's Association 



lowiiig day the scales should indicate an increase in milk flow, 

 in which case a like increase should be made the tilth da v. If 

 the scales do not show an increase in the milk, something is wrong. 

 Perhaps the ration is not suited to the particular cow and a 

 change should be made. Thus the ration should be increased bv 

 small amounts each alternate day, the scales showing the way on 

 the intervening day. Invariably during the first thirty days a 

 narrow ration — one composed largely of ground oats, oil meal, 

 bran, gluten feed, cottonseed meal, dried distillers' grains, with 

 a verv small amount of corn meal, in addition to the rouffhaee — 

 should be used because these are all rich in protein and stimulat- 

 ing to milk secretion. 



Greatest results are attained from the feeding that is practiced 

 the four weeks preceding and the four weeks following freshen- 

 ing. If all has gone well the cow has almost reached the limit of 

 her feeding capacity and the limit of her milk-producing ability 

 at the end of thirty days. A perceptible change has been made 

 in her appearance, much of the beefy conformation has disap- 

 peared and she has taken on a decided dairy form. The surplus 

 fat has been transformed from the body to the pail. 



The problem now is to hold the milk flow and the most ideal 

 working form. Recognizing that some foods tend to create energy 

 and fatten the animal when fed heavily enough, and others furnish 

 milk-making nutrients, and that the cow, whatever else she may 

 be, is a machine kept on the farm to convert these feeds into milk 

 and butter fat, the feeder with the scales and a variety of feeds 

 can so cond)ine and feed them in such amounts as to accomplish 

 any reasonable purpose he may choose, if the machine is efficient. 

 From day to day and from week to week, the ration should be 

 varied gradually, adding to or taking from foods of one character, 

 then another; catering always not only to the demand but also to 

 the likes and dislikes of the individual in charge. 



Radical changes in feed or environment should always be 

 avoided, for although variety is necessary, sudden changes, even 

 though for the better, invariably have a tendency to decrease 

 the milk flow. Great annual prodiu-tioii is in this niaiiiicr greatly 

 lessened, for when far advanced in her period of lactation a de- 

 crease in milk flow though apparently temporary is very liable 



