state Dairy Association. 99 



stroyed. and the trade lost. The condition of the cows regulate 

 the condition of the children consuming the milk; therefore, a 

 change of feed, or too much feed of a certain kind, especially such 

 as green oats, clover, alfalfa, corn or sorghum, which must be fed 

 with caution; and when a change is made from one to another, it 

 should be made gradually, and my experience has taught me that 

 some dry feed should always comprise part of the daily ration. 

 I have in mind one incident that cost me many an hour of worry 

 and several days of investigation before the trouble was located. 

 We started to feed green corn in August, and in a few days we had 

 numerous complaints from our customers that something was 

 wrong with our milk ; that it made their babies sick. Not knowing 

 that the effect of feed has such a wonderful influence on small chil- 

 dren we were at a loss to know the cause, and, in fact, discredited 

 the claims of the customers ; but finally a well known physician be- 

 came hostile, and advised his patients to discontinue using the 

 milk from our dairy. By that time we had found and overcome 

 the trouble. This was an expensive experience for us, and I am 

 giving you the benefit, so if any of you ever engage in the business 

 you will not make this error. 



CARE OF THE COWS. 



Having a sanitary barn to start with, it remains for the dairy- 

 men to produce the results. The cows should be tuberculin tested, 

 and if there are any reactions the animals should be removed im- 

 mediately and the barn fumigated with formalin tablets, after wash- 

 ing stalls, walls and floors with a 4-per cent solution of carbolic 

 acid. The cows should be made as comfortable as possible, but 

 should be given as much fresh air and exercise as conditions afford. 

 It is recommended by some that the cows should not be turned out 

 to pasture, but it is my contention that there is no way of feeding 

 the cows so satisfactory as letting them out to pasture; however, 

 it may be advisable to sow some kind of soiling crop to have it on 

 hand in case of short pasture, etc. 



Silage may be fed in the production of certified milk, but care 

 should be taken and not over feed, and to reduce the amount as soon 

 as the slightest indication of a silage flavor can be detected. It 

 has been my experience that ordinary cows will consume about 40 

 pounds of silage per head in the fall, and that amount shoud be 

 cut down to at least 30 pounds by spring. I believe that a cow's 

 system becomes saturated with the acid flavor of silage, if fed for a 

 long period of time, hence making it necessary to feed less. 



