FEED AND CARE OF THE DAIRY COW 407 



Since immature pasture crops are much richer in protein than hay 

 cut at the usual stage of maturity (81, 310), the concentrate mixture 

 for feeding on pasture need contain only half to two-thirds as large a 

 proportion of protein-rich feeds as is needed for winter feeding. 



660. Summer silage and soiling crops. When pastures become parched 

 in midsummer, it is much more economical to rely largely on summer 

 silage or soiling crops to supplement them than to try and keep up 

 the production by feeding only concentrates. It has been pointed out 

 in the previous chapter that when sufficient cows are fed to use up 

 the silage fast enough to keep it from spoiling, silage is usually a 

 much more economical feed than soiling crops. (643) If soiling crops 

 are used, it should be borne in mind that as a rule they are more 

 watery than good corn silage, and hence it is necessary to feed 

 40 to 50 Ibs. or more to supply as much dry matter as in 10 Ibs. of hay. 



IV. FEED AND CARE BEFORE AND AFTER CALVING 



661. Cows need a rest. Dairymen agree that it is most profitable 

 to give the dairy cow a rest between lactation periods, by drying her 

 off at least 6 weeks before freshening, for she will then produce more 

 milk annually than if milked continuously. 17 If she is in thin condi- 

 tion, she had best be allowed a rest of 8 weeks. This dry period pro- 

 vides an opportunity to get the cow into good shape for a hard year's 

 work and to give her digestive tract a rest from heavy grain feeding. 

 Dairymen differ as to the best length of lactation period, but so far as 

 the available data warrant conclusions, there is no apparent differ- 

 ence in the annual returns from cows again freshening 9, 10, or 12 

 months after calving, providing they are allowed to be dry for 6 to 8 

 weeks. 18 



To avoid injury to the udder, the cow should be dried off gradually. 

 It is well to milk only once daily for a few days, not stripping the udder 

 out clean; then but once in 2 days for 3 or 4 days, after which the in- 

 terval is lengthened to twice a week. When the milk yield is decreased 

 to 10 Ibs. per day or less, according to Eckles, 19 milking may be entirely 

 discontinued. The udder will fill for a few days, but the milk will be 

 gradually reabsorbed, and no harm will result. If the cow continues 

 to produce more than 10 Ibs. a day, her concentrate allowance should 

 be withheld and only poor roughage, like timothy hay, fed until the 

 flow is checked. 



662. Feed for the cows when dry. To ensure a good flow of milk the 

 following lactation period and also to lessen trouble at calving, the 

 cow should be thrifty and in fairly good flesh at freshening. (557) 

 If she is dry during the pasture season and there is plenty of pastur- 



17 Carroll, Utah Bui. 127. 



"Carroll, Utah Bui. 127. 



" Dairy Cattle and Milk Production, p. 230. 



