FOURTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII. 587 



giving a small flow of milk can do quite well on alfalfa and silage. 

 However, the animal that is giving a large flow must receive some con- 

 centrated feed. At the present prices cottonseed meal furnishes us 

 a cheaper source of protein than any other feed. Oil meal ranks next; 

 then gluten and bran. Cottonseed meal should not be fed with a ration 

 that is entirely dry. It makes an excellent feed together with corn and cob 

 meal, alfalfa and silage. The average cow should not receive over two 

 pounds of cottonseed meal a day. In the ration which does not contain 

 silage, oil meal or bran will have a more desirable effect than cottonseed 

 meal. This is because of their laxative and cooling effect. 



It is always best to grind the grain ration for the cow. Experiments 

 have proved that where grain is fed unground a large amount is wasted 

 due to the undigested portions which pass through the animal. Grind- 

 ing causes a more rapid and thorough digestion. The entire ear of 

 corn should be ground. It has been found that corn and cob meal pound 

 for pound contains the same feeding value as corn meal. 



It is impossible to formulate a ration which is best under all condi- 

 tions. Some cows have a digestive system strong enough to handle all 

 the feed required for her maximum milk production, while others will 

 break down under the same condition. In feeding the cow one should 

 always watch her and see that she is not taking the fat from her body 

 and thereby becoming weak. Cows which are underfed often do this, 

 while on the other hand many cows will rob the pail to place fat on their 

 backs. In compiling the ration the following rules may be of practical 

 assistance. 



First, feed all the roughage the cows will eat. 



Second, feed one pound of grain daily for each three pounds of milk. 



Third, feed all the cows will take without gaining in weight. 



VALUE OF AXFALFA. 



Alfalfa because of its great feeing value is becoming one of Iowa's 

 most important products. It does not only have the high protein con- 

 tent for feeding all classes of animals, but in its growth it gathers nitrogen 

 from the air and stores it up on its roots, therefore enriching the soil. 



Alfalfa ranks very favorably in its protein content with some of the 

 concentrated feeds. It has practically the same feeding value as bran, 

 which at once shows the economy of its use. Alfalfa contains on the 

 average 11.5 per cent digestible protein, bran 12 per cent, clover 7.5 

 per cent, and timothy 2.8 per cent. Alfalfa will also produce a larger 

 yield per acre than either clover or timothy. From three to five crops 

 of hay may be expected in Iowa, according to the locality. 



Many have thought that alfalfa cannot be successfully grown in their 

 respective localities. Present statistics show that there are over 46,000 



