11 Aug., 1919.] Mineral Bequirments of the Dairy Coiv. 501 



Science Bulletin No. 12, Department of Agriculture, New South 

 Wales, 1914, states that on those areas where malnutrition disorders are 

 prevalent the grasses contain a remarkably low amount of minerals. 



It may be said that a good milch cow raises an overdraft on her 

 system, and during the dry periods the amount has to be made up. 

 Consequently she needs the best attention all the time, and, therefore, 

 it is not good business to turn her into any rough, back paddock until 

 she calves again. 



About Hamilton, on paddocks where the grass seems satisfactory and 

 is abundant, and on which adult store cattle will thrive, milking cows 

 will die unless provided with salt and bone-meal. Henry estimates that 

 an ox stores 0.22 lb. of ash in a week, and that the dairy cow secretes 

 in her milk 1.35lb., or about six times as much. Thus an ox will fatten 

 where a milking cow will die. 



A really good text-book. Dairy Cattle Feeding and Management, by 

 C. W. Larson, M.S.A., Ph.D., and F. S. Putney, M.S., of Columbia and 

 Pennsylvania Colleges respectively, has recently been published. It 

 gives the summary of the functions of the ash as follows: — 



1. Constructive purposes. 



2. Carriers of gaseous products. 



3. Maintenance of neutrality or of necessary acidity or alkalinity. 



4. Control of muscles. 



5. Movement of liquids. 



6. Stimulation of vital reactions. 



7. Assistance in coagulation of the blood. 



8. Solution of proteids. 



9. Digestion of proteids and fat. 



Salt is an article of very great importance. It provides the chlorine 

 for the gastric juice, and the alkali (sodium) for the blood. Forbes says 

 that the efficiency of the blood to carry carbon dioxide from the tissues 

 to the lungs, where it may be cast out, depends upon the presence of 

 sodium, which acts as a vehicle for carrying waste matter to the 

 lungs. If there is a failure of the blood to do this, then death must 

 ensue, and where partial elimination occurs, vitality is lowered and 

 resistance to disease organisms is lessened. 



Sir Arnold Theiler, of the Union of South Africa, states, in his 

 Annual Report for 1916, that he still believes, notwithstanding the con- 

 trary opinions expressed, that the form of paralysis known as lamzickte 

 which affects cattle is due to the accumulation of grass toxins in the 

 .system, and he emphasizes the need for promoting oxidation. 



Dairy farmers should bear in mind that cows require from 1 to 2 ozs. 

 of salt per day, according to their yield of milk. In addition, they should 

 occasionally be given amounts of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, 

 even when dry. It pays, therefore, to top-dress the pastures in many 

 parts of Victoria. South of the Dividing Range most of the land needs 

 liming, and soils in almost every part of the State respond to phosphatic 

 dressings. 



