lOOG Xew York State Dairymen's Association 



^1k. .I^koadfield: Would you give a cow all she wants of 

 alfalfa bay 'i 



Prof. Van Pelt: That would depend somewhat upon the cost 

 of the alfalfa. Generally speaking, 1 would. But I would 

 try to govern the feeding according to her wants. For instance, 

 if I wanted a cow to have a wide ration during the preparatory 

 period when trying to fatten her, I would give corn silage; then 

 she would not waiit so much alfalfa. After freshening, in trying 

 to stimulate milk production, if I had alfalfa or it was not too 

 expensive I would cut down her silage ration, making her want 

 more alfalfa, because I consider it the cheapest source of protein, 

 especially when you grow it on your farm. I believe you are 

 \^ery fortunate in ]S^ew York, because you can grow enough corn 

 for silage, and for your grain, and you can grow alfalfa. In a 

 country where a farmer has good cows, is willing to care for 

 them properly, has such excellent markets as you have for your 

 dairy products, and can raise corn silage and alfalfa hay — 

 if you do not become prosperous it is your own fault. 



Mk. Proadfield : What is the best feed for a cow for fat con- 

 tent? 



Prof. Van Pelt : Corn silage, ground grain, hominy feed, 

 timothy hay and corn stover — foods of that nature, foods that 

 are right in carbohydrates instead of protein. 



MbI" Broadfield : I think you do not understand what I mean. 

 The alfalfa is rich in protein but deficient in fat. What I want 

 is an economical fat ration to go with them. We have com silage 

 and alfalfa hay. In making up the foundation of the grain ration 

 I want the most economical fat. 



Prof. Van Pelt : You can so feed alfalfa and corn silage 

 that you obtain almost any balanced ration you want. Then mix 

 your grains, and feed some corn-moal, hominy feed, oil meal, 

 cottonseed meal, distillers' grain, gluten feed, ground oats; any 

 of those feeds which are cheapest, most palatable, in other words 

 most economical in bringing your cow up on her flow of milk, 

 which you can determine better than anyone can tell you. If 



