53-t IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



efficient methods of caring for and applying manure, and other like factors 

 of importance. It is assumed that he will keep a herd of well-hred grade 

 dairy cows, each of which will produce 6,000 pounds of milk or make 

 280 pounds of butter a year. 



Since it is difficult to buy cows of this type whenever wanted, it is 

 assumed that heifers will be raised for the purpose and that on the 

 average there will be about one-fourth as many heifer yearlings and one- 

 fourth as many heifer calves as there are milch cows, or in all one-half 

 as many young stock as there are cows in the herd. 



The problem is: How many cows with corresponding young stock 

 will this farm of eighty acres support? To answer this it is first neces- 

 sary to know how much fixed stock, like horses, colts, "bulls, etc., will be 

 kept and what this fixed stock, the young stock, and the dairy herd will 

 be fed. 



FIXED STOCK ON DAIRY FARM. 



As in previous plans, it will be assumed that four brood mares will 

 be kept on the place and two colts raised each season, and one bull kept 

 for herd use. 



FEEDING SYSTEM FOR STOCK. 



Horses and Colts. — The horses, as heretofore, will be fed an average 

 of 15 pounds of com and 10 pounds of clover hay daily, with all the 

 cornstalks they will eat throughout the year. The colts will be fed 1^ 

 pounds of clover hay for 120 days of the year and 1 pound of oats for 

 about 300 days. 



Cows. — The daily ration for the cows will average for the year as 

 follows: 35 pounds of corn silage, 7 pounds of clover hay, 3 pounds of 

 corn-and-cob meal, 2 pounds of oats, and 1 pound of cottonseed meal. 

 Corn stover in small amounts will be fed in addition. 



The above combination of feeds will afford a well-balanced ration for 

 cows giving 6,000 pounds of milk a year. All the grain will be grown 

 on the place except the cottonseed meal, or its equivalent, which will be 

 bought. The grain will be mixed in about the proportions above indi- 

 cated. 



The quantity fed to one cow at any particular time will depend on 

 the amount of milk the cow is giving. Roughly speaking, a pound of 

 mixed grain will be fed for every 3 or S^/^ pounds of milk given. Thus, 

 if the cow is giving 30 pounds of milk a day, 10 pounds of grain will be 

 fed; if she gives only 15 pounds a day, then only 5 pounds will be fed. 

 The average for the whole year for one cow will be about as shown 

 above. 



Yearlings. — The yearlings from about May 1 to October 31, 184 daysy 

 will run at pasture and will receive on the average about 4^/4 pounds of 

 hay daily in addition. It is estimated that each yearling will require 

 on the average one acre of pasture for its support. From November 1 

 to April 30, 181 days, the yearlings will be fed 12 pounds of silage, 

 10 pounds of hay and 2 pounds of corn-and-cob meal daily. 



