EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 541 



BALANCING THE RATION. 



Balancing the ration, simply means combining the dififerent feeds 

 in such a way so there will be sufficient amounts of proteins, carbo- 

 hydrates and fat in the ration to economically maintain the animal and 

 support its proper functions. If there is an excess of any one of these 

 factors, it will be largely wasted by passing through the digestive 

 tract. 



The rules for feeding grain are: (1) One pound of grain per day 

 for each 3 or 4 pounds of milk produced, depending on the quality of 

 milk and the roughage used, or, (2) One pound of grain per day for 

 each pound of butter-fat produced per week. 



HOUSING*. 



The dairy barn should be conveniently located, well lighted and 

 ventilated. Its location will depend upou the contour of the land, 

 drainage and yarding space and its relation to other farm buildings. 



The arrangements of the windows should be such that the maximum 

 amount of sunshine can be admitted during the entire day. Concrete 

 floors are the most sanitary and permanent. A rough finish proves the 

 most serviceable and keeps the animals from slipping. Cork or plank 

 over the concrete floor in the stalls is often advisable, especially when 

 bedding is not plentiful. 



Good ventilation is of great importance, but it is often neglected. 

 A good dairy cow is the hardest worked animal on the farm. She is 

 busy manufacturing feed into milk about ten months of the year, yet she 

 is often, during cold weather, deprived of fresh air. Windows hinged at 

 the bottom and opening at the top to let in fresh air, and a flue through 

 the roof to carry out the foul air, will give fairly good satisfaction, in 

 small dairies, but care should be taken to prevent drafts directly on 

 the animals. A good ventilating system is a paying proposition in any 

 barn. It should be adapted to the barn and be large enough for the 

 number of animals kept. 



CARE AND FEEDING OF DAIRY CALVES. 



A large number of dairy cows have their producing possibilities 

 greatly impaired when they are still calves, usually before they are two 

 months of age. This trouble is indigestion, caused by (1) over-feeding 

 and (2) an unclean, wet stall. 



The dairy calf should have the first milk from its mother. This milk 

 contains the colostrum that starts the digestive organs of the calf 

 working normally. Allow the calf to run with the cow the first and 

 second day after calving, then begin hand feeding. During the first two 

 or three weeks give four to six quarts of whole milk per day, preferably 

 in three feeds; morning, noon and night, then gradually change to skim 

 milk. At this age the calf will start eating a little grain to take the 

 place of the fat removed from the milk. A good feed is a mixture of 

 bran, oats and cracked corn. Clover or alfalfa hay and a little silage 

 are good feeds for calves. Water and salt should be kept before them 



♦Complete plans for all farm buildings may be secured from the Farm Mechanics Dept. 

 of the Michigan Agricultural College. East Lansing. Michigan. 



