STATE DAIRY ASSOCIATION. 713 



they might have a rest before the severe strain that was to be put on them 

 began, to allow the cooling of the system and rest for the digestive tract, 

 adding streugtii and flesh. One conspicuous lesson was the value of 

 oxygen treatment for milli fe^er. Every cow which suffered from this 

 dreaded disease was carried safely through and made a very creditable 

 record. 



Mr. Van Pelt thinks that the results secured at this show with alfalfa 

 -hay and silage emphasize tlie practical importance of allowing the cows 

 to run dry during the season when she may be on grass and cheap food, 

 at the time when she is not producing, when the grass is naturally cooling 

 and its effect is particularlj^ desirable. The calf born in the fall can be 

 carefully wintered and readj' to go on grass next spring, doing well the 

 entire year. "The cow will yield from 10 to 20 per cent, more milk in 

 a year and produce a larger amoimt during the season of high prices. 

 Without exception the cows in the Jersey barn carried all the fat that 

 could be placed on them without resorting to heavy feeding and useless 

 overtaxing of the digestive tracts. During the resting period bran was 

 used to a considerable extent because of its bulk and cooling nature, ana 

 proved its value. Oats were used extensively to impart strength and 

 stamina and it will be found before we have advanced far in the feeding 

 of cows, that oats have a feeding ^alue for dairy cows and are in advance 

 of that indicated by their composition and digestible nutrients. Oil meal 

 was used in a limited way, aiding digestion. Coi*n meal was tried and used 

 for its cheapness and fattening qrialities. Our first rewards came with 

 the calving of the cows. Each of the 44 cows had strong and vigorous 

 calves and every one of them was sent home to its owner save one that 

 received injuries from falling in play. We could not have expected such 

 results had we allowed the cows to milk up to the day of calving without 

 rest and plenty of muscle and bone-forming food from which to nourish 

 the embryo calf. 



"I am thoroughly of the opinion that the future usefulness and great- 

 ness of the animal is not so much intiuenced as by the treatment and 

 nourishment it receives while in the dam. and no doubt most weaknesses 

 experienced with dairy calves are directly due to the improper care and 

 feed of the pregnant dam." 



A skilful feeder who finds his cow responding to the feed must be care- 

 ful not to crowd her too fast or increase her feed once too often. If this 

 happens it is almost inipossibie to get her back to her best work. Every 

 cow has two limits to her feeding qualities. First, there is a limit to her 

 capacity, that is, the total amount of food she can possibly eat. Secondly, 

 there is a limit to the amount of food eaten that can be made use of in 

 keeping up her energies and producing milk. All foods supplied between 

 these limits are worse than wasted, becnuse it not only gives no return, 

 but once in the stomach, it requires extra work for the cow to rid herself 

 of it. To find the limit is a problem confronting the feeder, for only expe- 



