86 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



comes from what is consumed beyond this maintenance ration. Plainly 

 there can be no profit without liberal feeding. 



The most perfect ration is that found in the pasture of mixed grasses- 

 and clovers when at its best. As it deteriorates from over-ripeness or oa 

 account of dry weather, it should be supplemented with soiling crops, 

 such as oats and peas, sweet corn and a grain ration. Most farmers desire 

 to grow their own feed as far as possible, and this is practicnble by 

 retaining the bran of the wheat crop to Ijalance the corn and other 

 fattening foods. Early cut clover hay and well-cured corn fodder are 

 among the best milk producing foods, and a grain ration of equal j)arts 

 of corn, oats and bran will be found safe and highly satisfactory. 



Some succulent food should be supplied in the winter. For this pur- 

 pose some roots should be grown. The yellow tankard mangold may be 

 quite cheaply grown and is highly relished by the cows. 



These suggestions are for those farmers who, like the speaker, have 

 too few cows, or for other reasons do not use the silo for preserving the 

 corn crop. 



The dairy cow is an animal with sensitive nerves and is strongly in- 

 fluenced by surrounding conditions and by the manner in which she 

 is treated. One can hardly overestimate the value of kindness to her. 

 Gentleness in the cow is a most desirable quality and is acknowledged 

 to be largely the result of kind treatment. Many experiments go to 

 prove that kindness has a marked effect on both the quantity and the 

 quality of the product. Kind treatment and protection from worry from 

 any source will pay. 



Cows must be kept on every farm. An intelligent study of their 

 needs and the application of the same business sense that brings suc- 

 cess in other lines will make them a source of profit and gratification 

 to their owner. 



, DISCUSSION. 



Q. Do yoii feed your cows in the morning and clean the stables before milking? 



Mr. Hutchins: Yes, sir. 



Mr. Pinckney: We have been advised not to clean the stables before milking because- 

 by, so doing we fill the air with odors detrimental to the quality of the milk. I am 

 anxious to know the truth of this matter. I am inclined to think that the plan is not 

 a good one. As to housing cows, I believe it is better to let tllena out for exercise 

 than to keep them housed all the time. 



A. M. Welch, Ionia: I heartily agree with the gentleman who read the paper that 

 it is bad practice to turn cows out on cold days to water. If I should turn my cows 

 out on such days I would suffer a loss of twenty-five quarts of milk in the yield of the' 

 herd. Cows should have access to water at all times if possible because we do not know 

 just when they want water. 



A Farmer: When I go to the stable in the morning I milk first, being veiy careful' 

 not to stir up the droppings before milking. After milking I feed silage, then go to 

 breakfast, then feed hay. At about ten o'clock I turn out to water to a tank con- 

 taining a tank heater ; feed more silage at eleven o'clock, when cows are put in. . 

 Turn out to water again in the afternoon, and in the evening milk and feed again.. 

 The day of letting cows run to corn stalks and hay stacks is at an end in Michigan. 



Q. What is a good butter record for a cow? My cows average about 300 pounds off 

 butter per cow i^er year? Is this a good average? 



J. W. Hutchins: Yes, a very good average. 



Q. How about cotton seed meal and gluten meal ? 



J. W. Hutchins: They show by chemical analysis a high degree of protein and 

 are both excellent feed to add to corn stalks and timothy hay, or similar carbonaceous 

 coarse feed. 



