TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VI 549 



This fact was clearly demonstrated by the records on the scrub cows 

 and heifers brought to Iowa State College from Arkansas to be used in 

 a breeding experiment. The following table shows clearly how the 

 younger animals profited by the better feeding they received while 

 growing. All of these cows were of the same breeding (scrubs) so the 

 difference in production was due to the feed received during their 

 development. 



TABLE TAKEN FROM BULLETIN NO. 165 OF IOWA STATE 



COLLEGE 



AVERAGE PRODUCTION OF SCRUB COWS BROUGHT IN FROM ARKANSAS 



It is interesting to note that heifers as nearly mature as four years 

 olds were made into better cows for having received a liberal balanced 

 ration at the end of their growing period. The remarkable increase in 

 production of the young heifers over the mature cows brings back the 

 fact that liberal feeding of young stock pays good dividends. 



Many farmers believe that it is not necessary to feed a grain ration 

 especially if there is corn in the silage, however, when it is considered 

 how much product the cow actually makes the fallacy of this idea is 

 readily seen. It no doubt would be possible for the "original unim- 

 proved cow" to feed on roughages alone, but when it is realized that the 

 cow of today is an unnatural animal developed far beyond her normal 

 producing ability it is readily seen why it is necessary to feed some 

 grain in order to secure maximum production, which is the cheapest 

 production. 



Remember the properly bred and selected dairy cow is a machine 

 which works most efficiently when fed to capacity with a carefully 

 balanced ration. 



