NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V 347 



in the same gradual manner for a few days and it will, as a rule, be noted 

 that the cow will further increase in milk flow. The feed given on the 

 day she begins to decline in milk determines practically the amount of 

 grain she should receive. Much less than this amount will not compel 

 her best work and any additional feed will be worse than wasted. 



The exact amount and quality of the food will be determined by the 

 condition and individuality of the cows. Seldom do two cows demand to 

 be fed in exactly the same way. Cows inclined toward beeflness require 

 a narrow ration, or one containing a proportionately large amount of 

 protein; cows of the srictly dairy type, inclined to work hard and be- 

 come thin in flesh, need to be fed more extensively of foods rich in car- 

 bohydrates. Cows of large capacity and the ability to produce great vol- 

 umes of milk, require more than cows with less capacity and ability. 



Amount to Feed. 



The amount of feed given the cow is of great importance. The aver- 

 age dairy cow requires about 50 per cent of a normal ration for main- 

 tenance. Consequently, if this cow is fed but one-half the normal ration, 

 she receives simply enough to maintain her body and the milk she gives 

 will be produced at the expense of her body tissues. Under such condi- 

 tions the flow of milk would no doubt keep up for a time, but the animal 

 would not be able to continue the work and her strength for a very long 

 period. This is one of the chief reasons why cows on many farms drop 

 off rapidly in milk flow after the first two or three months of their lacta- 

 tion periods. It is poor economy to underfeed the dairy cow because 

 her maintenance requirements for the year will remain the same and her 

 milk production will be certain to suffer. 



There are cows that are overfed, thus receiving food in addition to 

 the requirements for maintenance and milk production, and this extra 

 food is used for fat formation. This happens where all the cows are fed 

 alike, irrespective of lactation period and production. This is also poor 

 economy, because when many cows start to "flesh up" they continue to 

 do so at the expense of milk production. 



The best ration will depend upon the condition, individuality and 

 record of the cow, but it is a common practice to allow one pound of 

 grain for each two and a half to four and a half pounds of milk produced, 

 depending upon the richness of the milk, or six to eight pounds of grain 

 for each pound of butter fat. In addition to this grain ration, the average 

 cow should receive one to one and a half pounds of clover or alfalfa hay 

 and two and a half to three pounds of corn silage for each 100 pounds 

 live weight. 



ADVANTAGES OF DAIRYING 



Dairying maintains tlie fertility of the soil. 



Dairying fnrnislies a steady income. 



Dairying furnishes a steady employment of labor. 



The market for dairy products is steady. 



Dairying utilizes unsalable roughage. 



Dairying affords opportunity for increased income. 



Dairying utilizes waste land. 



