FEED AND CARE OF THE DAIRY COW 403 



just as we do. This is shown by the experience of numerous breeders, 

 as well as the results of trials conducted by Woodward and McNulty 

 of the United States Department of Agriculture. 7 In regions with 

 severe winters, cows should be watered indoors when the weather is so 

 bad that it is not desirable to turn them out for exercise. 



In studies at the South Dakota Station 8 Larsen and colleagues found 

 that the composition of the milk was unchanged when cows received 

 only half the normal amount of water or when they were watered only 

 once in 60 hours, but under such conditions the yield of milk was de- 

 creased and the cows became nervous and gaunt in appearance. When 

 cows were supplied alkali water from a well in place of normal water, 

 they excreted more urine, but their health was not injured nor the 

 quality of their milk affected. In some instances the bad results at- 

 tributed to alkali water may be due to the cows drinking foul, stagnant, 

 alkali water from a surface pool. 



653. Salt. That dairy cows must have salt to thrive is shown clearly 

 by the studies of Babcoek and Carlyle, which have already been re- 

 viewed. (100) They state that cows in milk should receive at least 

 1 ounce of salt a day, and heavy producers still more. They conclude 

 that 0.75 ounce daily per 1,000 Ibs. live weight, with 0.3 ounce in addi- 

 tion for every 10 Ibs. of milk, is generally sufficient. Cows may be allowed 

 free access to salt ; they may be fed salt at regular intervals ; or it may 

 be mixed with their feed. A plan followed by many dairymen is to 

 mix 0.5 Ib. to 1.0 Ib, of salt with each 100 Ibs. of concentrates, and then 

 in addition to provide salt so the cows can have access to it and take 

 all they wish. 



II. HINTS ON CARING FOB DAIRY Cows 



654. Shelter and comfort. In winter the steer, gorged with feed and 

 every day adding to the heat-holding layer of fat just beneath the skin, 

 prefers the yard or open shed to the stable. The cow of dairy type 

 and temperament stands in strong contrast, her system being severely 

 taxed thru the annual drain of maternity and the daily loss of milk. 

 She is spare instead of being protected by fat and consequently has more 

 body surface to radiate heat than the steer per 100 Ibs. live weight. 

 Furthermore, her hide is usually thinner and her coat more scanty than 

 in the case of the beef steer. She should therefore be comfortably 

 housed in a well-ventilated, well-lighted stable, having a temperature 

 not below 40 to 50 F. in winter. This is no higher than can readily 

 be secured without artificial heat, even during severe weather in the 

 northern states, if the stable is well-built and is provided with an effi- 

 cient ventilating system. (102) 



Farther south, less shelter is needed. In the climate of central Penn- 

 sylvania, Davis 9 found that cows stabled in a rather poorly-ventilated 



'Information to the authors. 'Perm. Rpt. 1913-14, pp. 183-226. 



8 S. D. Buls. 132, 147, 175. 



