Live Stock Breeders' Association. 193 



cured from grain feeding, it was not economical to produce it In 

 this way. They secured only about an additional pound of milk 

 for each pound of grain fed. In these experiments the pastures 

 produced an abundance of nutritious grasses. They observed, how- 

 ever, that the cows fed grain during the summer gave better re- 

 sults after the grazing period was over, than those not having re- 

 ceived grain. This is also a matter of common observation, and 

 should be taken into account in considering the advisability of feed- 

 ing grain. The point is that the cows fed grain stored a consider- 

 able quantity of surplus nutrients on their body which were after- 

 wards available for production of milk. Where a small amount of 

 grain is fed, corn is as well adapted as anything else where it is 

 cheaper than other feeds, since on account of the comparative nar- 

 row nutritive value of the grass the corn does not unbalance the 

 ration. However, in case of feeding large quantities of grain as 

 would be necessary in the case of cows producing from IV2 to 2 

 pounds of fat per day or more, other feed containing more protein 

 should be used in part, such as bran, gluten meal, oats or cotton- 

 seed meal. 



Providing for Periods of Short Pasture — As long as fresh pas- 

 ture grasses are abundant, the ordinary cow is about as well pro- 

 vided for as she can be to produce milk economically. Unfortu- 

 nately the season of abundant pasturage is often short. In many 

 localities, a dry period, often of several weeks, occurs during the 

 middle or latter part of the summer and the pastures become short 

 and insufficient to maintain a full flow of milk. This season is 

 often the critical time of the year for the dairy cow. It is prob- 

 able that as much loss occurs one year with another by lack of feed 

 at this time as occurs from improper feeding during the winter 

 season. When the season of dry feeding arrives, the farmer ex- 

 pects to feed his stock and is prepared for it. On the other hand, 

 as long as the cattle are on pasture and the field work is pressing, 

 the tendency is to let the cows get along the best way they can. 



Under average farm conditions in this State cows are fresh 

 in the spring, give a good flow of milk while the pastures are good, 

 but when hot weather and short pastures come the flow drops one- 

 half or two-thirds, and the cows are almost dry at the beginning of 

 winter. It is almost impossible to restore the flow of milk to the 

 original amount after it is once allowed to run down from lack of 

 feed. To make large returns from the cow a large yearly produc- 

 tion must be had, and to do this, the flow of milk must be kept up 



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