418 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



which will eoine off quickly with proper handling after the cow freshens. 

 By this method the percentage of fat in a 7-day Holstein test is often 

 increased from the normal fat percentage of 3.5 to 6 or 7 per ct. or even 

 higher. Soft fitting is not believed to be conducive to maximum yields 

 on long time tests, however. In soft-fitting, concentrate mixtures are 

 used which are not high in protein. For example, a common one is 

 equal parts of ground corn or hominy feed, ground oats, wheat bran, and 

 linseed meal. Often less linseed meal is fed than in this mixture. Ground 

 barley may be substituted for part of the corn and oats. The cow is fed 

 practically all of such a mixture that she will clean up, along with plenty 

 of good legume hay and silage, and often with soaked beet pulp or roots 

 in addition. A large Holstein cow, weighing 1,600 Ibs., may take 25 Ibs. 

 or more a day of concentrates while she is being fitted. 



For yearly tests cows are more commonly * ' hard fitted, " as it is called, 

 by feeding a concentrate mixture somewhat richer in protein than when 

 "soft fitting " is practiced. The mixture is, however, usually lower in 

 protein than the ' * test mixture ' ' fed when the cows are on test. In ' ' hard 

 fitting, ' ' cows are usually fattened for a somewhat longer period than in 

 "soft fitting." Cows thus fitted are said to store a harder fat, which 

 does not come off as quickly as with "soft fitting. " Commonly one- 

 fourth to one-third of the concentrate mixture will be bran, and the 

 proportions of corn and oats will be somewhat smaller, and of linseed 

 meal or other protein-rich feeds higher, than in the "soft fitting" 

 mixture mentioned. 



A typical mixture is 200 Ibs. wheat bran, 100 Ibs. linseed meal, 50 Ibs. 

 gluten feed, 50 Ibs. cottonseed meal, 100 Ibs. ground corn or hominy feed, 

 and 100 Ibs. ground oats. Many different combinations are successfully 

 used, and the choice should depend in large part on the feeds which are 

 most economical under one 's own conditions. 



When the individual preferences of a cow for various feeds are not 

 already known, the fitting period is the time to find out just what feeds 

 she likes best by trying out various combinations. Then later on when 

 she is on test, it will be possible to give heed to her likes and dislikes in 

 making up the test mixture of concentrates. 



675. Feed and care at calving. The fitting ration is usually discon- 

 tinued 10 days to 2 weeks before calving and a "cooling ration" fed 

 instead. This usually consists of all the roughage the cow wants, 

 including roots, if possible. In addition, 2 to 10 Ibs., or even a little 

 more in some cases, is fed of such a laxative and bulky mixture as 2 parts 

 wheat bran, 2 parts ground oats, and 1 part linseed meal. For a day 

 or so before calving often no concentrates are fed except 2 to 3 Ibs. of bran 

 mash a day, or the same weight of a mixture of equal parts of bran and 

 whole oats. It is essential that her bowels be in a laxative condition, and 

 if necessary a dose of Epsom salts should be given. 



A week before calving, the cow should be put in a well-ventilated 

 box-stall, where she will be comfortable and free from drafts. The stall 



