CHAPTER IV. 



FEEDING DAIRY COWS* 



THE following principles should be observed in the 

 economic feeding of dairy cows : 



1. Feed liberally, especially of the cheap, bulky 

 foods. Make these as palatable as possible. 



2. Feed the concentrates (meals) according to the 

 milk-flow. Test the cows occasionally with an increase 

 of meal, and note whether or not they respond. 



3. Study the capacity, likes and dislikes of each 

 cow. 



4. Keep the mangers clean. 



The cheapest and most valuable bulky foods, after 

 grass, for the dairyman are corn silage, clover hay 

 and mangolds. The cut clover hay (eight to ten 

 pounds for each cow) and the pulped mangolds 

 (thirty to forty pounds per cow) should be mixed 

 with the corn silage (thirty to forty pounds per cow), 

 if possible, a few hours before feeding, in order to 

 soften the hay and make the whole mass more 

 palatable and more easily digested. When hay is not 

 available cut straw may be used. The cows and the 

 young stock may receive practically all they wish of 

 this cheap, bulky food. Corn fodder or cornstalks 

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