CATTLE 205 



Feeding a Ration. — To feed a cow such a ration, it is 

 not necessary to weigh each day 4 lbs. of corn, 1 lb. of bran 

 and the hay and fodder. One would mix 100 lbs. or more of 

 bran with four times as much corn. In feeding, use a measure 

 that holds the desired number of pounds of the mixture. 

 By weighing the feeds a few times one can soon approximate 

 the right amount of each without weighing it. 

 Questions: 



1. In what way can one determine approximately the amount 

 of grain needed by a cow? 



2. Tell how to compound a ration for a cow. 



3. Would you weigh the ration each time you feed? 

 Arithmetic: 



1. What is the cost of a ration composed of 4 lbs. of corn at 

 54c. per bushel, (56 lbs.), 1 lb. of bran at $20 per ton, 10 lbs. of clover 

 hay at $5.00 per ton, and 10 lbs. of corn fodder at $4.00 per ton? 



2. A cow fed the above ration gives 15 lbs. of 4% milk. What 

 is the milk worth when butter-fat is seUing for 30c. per pound? 



3. How many pounds of protein in one ton of bran? What does 

 it cost per pound when bran costs $20 per ton? 



POOR AND GOOD RATIONS 



A Poor Ration. — A very common ration fed to dairy 

 cows on the farm is composed of slough hay, corn stover, 

 and ground barley and corn. Suppose a 1,000-lb. cow 

 gives 20 lbs. of milk testing 4.5% fat. She will require: 



Pro. C. H. Fat 



For maintenance 7 7. .1 



For 20 lbs. of 4.5% milk 1.02 5. .36 



Total requirements 1.72 12. .46 



A COW giving 20 lbs. of milk would require 7 or 8 lbs. 

 of grain. Let us see what kind of a ration she would get, 

 if fed the above mentioned feeds: 



Daily Ration for. a 1,000 lb. Cow Giving 20 lbs. of 4.6% Milk 



Pro. C. H. Fat 



Corn, dent. 4 lbs. .300 2.77 .184 



Barley 3 lbs. .270 2.00 .048 



Swamp grass 12 lbs. .420 4.81 .096 



Corn stover, high in water 12 lbs. .168 3.73 .072 



Total nutrients 1.158 13.31 .400 



This ration would be all a cow could possibly eat, as it 

 supplies 31 lbs, of dry feed, yet it comes far short of supply- 

 ing wiough protein. We have learned that neither carbo- 



