FEED AND CARE) OF DAIRY COWS 2O3 



during the day and pasture them at night, feeding green crops 

 during the day. All pastures should have some trees to furnish 

 shade during the hot days. 



Exercise. In the cold winters cows should get several hours 

 of exercise daily, to keep up milk production. Often it is too dis- 

 agreeable to exercise the cows outside, and a change to some 

 roomy, well ventilated, covered enclosure, which is bedded with 

 straw and horse manure and sprinkled with some material such 

 as land plaster, makes a desirable place for the animals to rest 

 and exercise. 



Kindness. The dairy cow is generally a nervous animal and 

 should always be treated gently for best results. Dairy cattle 

 like people do not enjoy harsh and abusive treatment. To keep 

 up a good flow of milk the cows should be quiet and contented 

 and any treatment that tends to make them nervous, results in 

 lessening milk production. 



Rations for Dairy Cows. In the Wisconsin Experiment Sta- 

 tion Bui. 38, Woll gives statistics on 100 American dairy ra- 

 tions. Some of the data from this bulletin is given for the 

 student because it represents actual practice of some of the 

 leading American dairymen. 



In all, 2,921 cows in milk were represented as receiving these 

 rations. A few of these rations may prove of interest. 



Colorado 20 Ibs. alfalfa hay, 10 Ibs. corn fodder, 3 Ibs. cot- 

 ton-seed meal, 4 Ibs. corn meal, 13 Ibs. bran, 35 Ibs. mangolds. 



Connecticut 35 Ibs. corn silage, 10 Ibs. hay, 3 Ibs. bran, 3 

 Ibs. corn and cob meal, 2 Ibs. Chicago gluten meal, 2 Ibs. cotton- 

 seed meal. 



Illinois 7^ Ibs. clover hay, 7^ Ibs. timothy hay, 12 Ibs. corn 

 and cob meal, 8 Ibs. bran, i% Ibs. linseed meal, i% Ibs. cotton- 

 seed meal. 



Indiana 30 Ibs. corn silage, 5 Ibs. clover hay, 3 Ibs. corn fod- 

 der, i Ib. oat straw, I Ib. wheat straw, 5 Ibs. bran, 2 Ibs. oil 

 meal, 2 Ibs. cotton-seed meal. 



Iowa 50 Ibs. corn silage, 5 Ibs. hay, 5 Ibs. corn fodder, I Ib. 

 oat straw, i Ib. barley straw, 5 Ibs. ear corn, 2^ Ibs. ground oats 

 and barley. 



