124 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE FEEDING OF THE DAIRY COW. 



BY COLON C. LILLIE, COOPERSVILLE. 



(Abstract.) 



No man can be a successful feeder of dairy cows until he not only un- 

 derstands the requirements of each animal, but until he is thoroughly 

 informed regarding the nutritive qualities of the different kinds of 

 feed available for the purpose. The character of the food furnished 

 will depend also upon the condition of the animal. Thus, a growing 

 animal should be fed differently from one that has reached its full 

 development, the same as a working horse requires more and different 

 food from one that is standing in the stable. Without a knowledge of 

 the chemical composition of food, and the needs of the animal, it is 

 impossible to feed economically, either from the standpoint of secur- 

 ing the best results from the animal or making an economical use of 

 the food. After making a careful study of the subject and taking 

 into account the fodder available upon the farm and the market price 

 of grain, the following ration has been adopted: Forty pounds of 

 corn ensilage, four pounds of dried beet pulp and two or three pounds 

 of cotton seed meal with all the clover hay the animal will eat. 



While Illinois and Iowa are everywhere endorsed as corn-growing 

 states, the counties of southern Michigan are well adapted for the 

 growing of this crop and in no way can it be handled easier or more 

 economically than when stored in the silo, which makes it possible to 

 store the corn without serious loss. The silo is of a special value in 

 seasons when the weather is not favorable for the perfect ripening of 

 the corn. 



Even more than with most other animals care should be taken that 

 the dairy cow is properly housed. While on the one hand, it is im- 

 portant to have the stables well ventilated, so as to keep the air pure, 

 it is of almost equal importance that the dairy cow is carefully shielded 

 from the storms of winter. No man can handle a dairy herd econom- 

 ically who turns the animals out on stormy days and allows them to 

 shiver in the blast for several hours. Sunlight also is one of the best 

 germicides and it is very important that the dairy barn should be well 

 lighted. 



Q. How do you tie your cows? 



A. Mr. Lillie. — There are several ways about equally as good. I 

 tie two together, with chains. This has its defects as all other systems 

 have, 



Q. How many pounds of milk does it take to make a pound of butter 

 when the Babcock test shows three per cent of butter fat in the-milk? 

 Also when the test is four, five and six per cent? 



Answer by J. W. Helme: 



Twenty-seven pounds of three per cent milk will make one pound of 

 butter. 



