Thikty-sixtii Annual Convention 1005 



wonder why I g-et so iiiucli milk, and I say they take too much 

 care of their cows aud it costs them more to do it. 



J. H. Whitk : What is the value of feeding roots and turnips, 

 etc., to dairy cows ? 



Prof. Van Pelt: That is a thing that is hard to determine. 

 They do not show by analysis that they have much feeding 

 value. In fact, roots have about 90 per cent, of water and 10 per 

 cent, real, dry feeding value. It is the succulence that they 

 add to the ration. The value is physical rather than chem- 

 ical ; and there is great value in feeding corn silage, roots, beet 

 pulp and foods of that character. They keep the cow in good 

 condition. I always like to consider the feeding and caring; for 

 cows from the standpoint of our best natural conditions. Xature 

 is an extra feeder when she wants to be. For instance, you know 

 in the spring when your cows go to grass they come right up on 

 their milk flow, give more milk than at any other time of the 

 year. Let us stop and ask ourselves why; analyze the situation. 

 We will find that there are five reasons why a cow gives more 

 milk at that time of the year. The first is that she is out in the 

 fresh open air. She gets all the fresh air she can breathe. That 

 is a great thing — a large part of what milk is made of. The 

 second is, she gets the sunshine. The third is, the water she 

 drinks has the chill taken off by the warm rays of the sun. The 

 fourth is that at that time of the year the atmosphere is just 

 right, neither too hot nor too cold, about 45 to 55 degrees. She 

 likes the warm air. These cost nothing. We can let fresh air 

 and sunshine into the stable, and we can get the warmth and 

 we can heat the water. All of that costs very little. It may be 

 necessary to remodel the barn, but it is worth while. Fifth, she 

 is surrounded by all the succulent, palatable, easily-digested, 

 nutritious green feed that she can possibly eat, and she eats all 

 she possibly can, and then if she possibly can she eats some more. 

 We can imitate that by mixing feeds ; give her palatability by 

 giving variety; succulence through corn silage, roots and food of 

 that character. W^e just follow this plan of nature; then we have 

 the real way to feed our cows for profit. 



