LECTURE XLII. 



FEEDS ADAPTED TO THE PRODUCTION OF MILK 

 DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. 



Clover hay nicely cured is the best roughage that can 

 be offered the dairy cow. This feed is highly nitrogenous 

 and contains a large amount of mineral matter. It is admi- 

 rably suited to the production of milk. About 10 to 12 

 pounds per cow per day should be the allowance. If clean 

 and well cured, it is better to feed it long, as in this form it 

 is freer from dust than when cut. 



In some sections, especially Canada, roots (mangels) are 

 fed in large quantities to dairy cattle in winter. Corn silage 

 has proven itself quite as valuable and can be more cheaply 

 secured. It is simply the stalks, leaves and ears cut up into 

 small half-inch lengths and stored away in an air-tight can 

 called a silo. The corn should be fairly well matured before 

 it is stored away. 



Corn silage is highly carbonaceous, but because of its 

 succulence is a very acceptable ingredient in the dairy cow's 

 ration. With a little clover hay or alfalfa added, the ration 

 can be easily balanced. About 30 to 40 pounds is fed daily. 

 From this you can reckon that about 4 tons of silage should 

 be stored away for the dairy cow to tide her through the 

 winter months. She cannot subsist and do work on silage 

 alone, but must be supplied with clover hay and other food- 

 stuffs. 



Corn stalks, if cut and cured properly, make a good sub- 

 stitute for timothy hay. Sometimes they are fed whole with 

 ears attached. When fed this way there is always a little 

 waste, as the cows will leave the coarser stalks after strip- 

 ping them of the ears and tender leaves. 



Another method is followed sometimes that of running 

 the stalks, leaves and ears through a cutter. When this cut 

 stuff is fed, the cows leave nothing. 



In the corn belt there is a great deal of what is known 

 as corn stover. This is the dried stalks and leaves after the 



