Live Stock Breeders' Association. 195 



some plant to cover the period of early spring before corn can be 

 brought to maturity. In the solution of this problem it has been 

 found that corn silage kept over from the preceding season will 

 answer this purpose more fully and more satisfactorily than any 

 other crop that can be grown at this season of the year. Thus the 

 corn plant lends itself to the farmer who, by reason of limited area 

 and high priced land, is forced to produce the largest possible 

 quantity per acre, quite as well as to the farmer on the broad fertile 

 prairies of the west, where the greatest possible number of acres 

 must be managed by one man." 



The use of silage for the same purpose is spreading rapidly 

 and gives splendid satisfaction. 



Any of the common crops which furnish green feed at this 

 season can also be used. Next to corn, sorghum is probably used 

 most extensively in Missouri. Where alfalfa is grown, it may be 

 used for the same purpose. 



WINTER FEEDING. 



Fortunately, the period of winter feeding in Missouri is shorter 

 than in most of the dairy states. By pasturing wheat and having 

 a blue grass pasture which has not been eaten down, to turn into 

 late in the fall, the pasturing season can be greatly prolonged. The 

 great problem in winter feeding, as already stated, is, in general, 

 to maintain summer conditions. It is entirely feasible to maintain 

 practically these summer conditions throughout the entire winter 

 on any farm when the subject is properly understood and the 

 necessary arrangements made. In order to point out how these 

 summer conditions may best be maintained during the winter the 

 statements already given will be discussed in detail. 



Amount of Feed — The first condition given as typical of the 

 summer feeding is an abundance of palatable food, and on this 

 point is made one of the most common mistakes in feeding cows. 

 In producing milk, the cow may be looked upon in a way as a milk 

 producing machine which we supply with a certain amount of raw 

 material in the form of feed, and this raw material is manufactured 

 into milk. The same rule holds in running the milk manufacturing 

 plant as would hold in the running of any other manufacturing 

 plant; it is run most economically near its full capacity. Every one 

 who feeds animals should thoroughly comprehend that, first of all, 

 the animal must use a certain proportion of its food to maintain 

 the body. This is the first requirement of the animal and it is the 



