FARM ANIMALS 163 



hundred pounds of milk when alfalfa hay is 

 substituted for wheat bran. 



One of the most important items of economy 

 in the production of milk is, therefore, the sub- 

 stitution wherever possible of home grown crops 

 in the form of leguminous forage plants for high- 

 priced purchased grain foods. As already in- 

 dicated, alfalfa is not the only valuable leguminous 

 forage plant, but red, white and crimson clover, 

 cowpeas, vetches, soy-beans, velvet beans, Canada 

 field peas, etc., may be used for this purpose. 



Cornstalks. The corn plant, exclusive of the 

 grain, is universally recognized as an important 

 coarse fodder for all animals which require such 

 material. Since dairy cows can utilize more 

 coarse forage than any other animal this material 

 has come to fill a large place in the dietary of the 

 dairy cow. The corn plant may be fed in the 

 form of corn shives, pulled leaves, corn stover, 

 corn fodder, or silage. If fed in a dried form, 

 field cured, or stacked in barns, corn fodder 

 should occupy about the same place as hay in 

 the ration and should be supplemented by some 

 succulent material such as corn silage or roots. 

 The relative expense of harvesting, storing and 

 feeding corn in the various forms has been care- 

 fully studied by a number of the agricultural 

 experiment stations and it appears that, while 

 the evidence in the case may vary according to the 

 price of labor or other factors, it is usually more 

 economical to harvest the corn just as the dent be- 

 gins to show and ensile it, ears and all, and feed as 

 silage. The difference in cost is not great, but is suffi- 

 cient to make it desirable to recommend this manner 

 of caring for corn for dairy cows wherever the con- 

 veniences are at hand for the production of silage. 



