THE FAMILY MILK SUPPLY 



ten months is far more desirable than one which 

 produces a large volume following freshening 

 and then slumps off rapidly. 



Importance of Pasture. Pasturage plays so 

 important a part in economical milk production 

 and in contributing to the health of the animal 

 that it is unwise to consider keeping one's own 

 cow unless 3 or 4 acres of pasture land per 

 animal are available. When the cow is on pasture 

 from May until November no other roughage 

 is required, provided of course the grasses and 

 clovers are plentiful. Plenty of water is essential, 

 and if this is not made available by a stream in the 

 pasture, it will be necessary to furnish drinking 

 water three times daily. 



Stabling and Feeding. From early November 

 until May it will be necessary to provide stabling 

 facilities, roughage in the form of hay, ensilage 

 or beet pulp, and concentrated feed to keep the 

 animal producing. About 3 tons of good timothy- 

 and-clover hay or alfalfa will be needed per 

 animal during these six months. Storage room 

 will be needed in the building for the hay and 

 for the concentrated feed. A good practice is 

 to keep the cow in a box stall 12 by 14 feet in 

 size. Ample bedding should be provided, con- 

 sisting of straw, wood shavings, shredded corn 

 stalks, peat moss or dried leaves. These will 

 absorb the liquid manure and after such use 



163 



