FARM ANIMALS 159 



for the production of energy, meat or other animal 

 products. For milch cows it is exceedingly effect- 

 ive and may be fed in rations of one to six pounds 

 per day to balance other carbonaceous grains or 

 coarse fodder. Naturally cotton seed meal is fed 

 most extensively in the South, but it has also been 

 tested throughout the northern states where it has 

 universally given satisfactory results, when fed 

 with other grains and when used in rations contain- 

 ing all kinds of succulent materials and coarse 

 forage. When fed within reasonable limits it 

 appears to have no injurious effects upon dairy 

 cows. One fact which is noticed in the butter is 

 that the melting point is somewhat raised so that 

 butter from cows receiving cotton seed meal is 

 unusually firm. Linseed meal is also used almost 

 universally in the dairy. It has with dairy cows 

 the same effect, as with other animals, regulating 

 the digestive organs and adding to the thriftiness 

 of the animal and the good appearance of the coat. 

 It may be safely fed in rations as high as five pounds 

 but this would not be profitable under ordinary 

 circumstances. Fortunately, a much smaller 

 amount, one to two pounds with wheat bran and 

 corn is quite sufficient to produce the desired re- 

 sults. Speltz, emmer, oats, peas, beans, rye, sor- 

 ghum, millet, and various other grains are fed to 

 dairy cows in different localities with satisfactory 

 results, provided, in each case the ration is balanced 

 so as to contain a suitable proportion of protein 

 and carbonaceous materials. 



As already indicated, wherever the rations 

 ordinarily fed by farmers to dairy cows have been 

 studied with reference to their protein content 

 and other rations suggested containing more 

 protein, an increase in the amount of milk and 



