DAIRY CATTLE 365 



476. When the pastures fail. Therefore, when the pastures 

 become dry, or short, they should be supplemented with some 

 green crop such as corn, oats, and Canada peas, sorghum, green 

 alfalfa, or silage. It is very important that the flow of milk be 

 kept up, as it is difficult to " bring a cow back to her milk " 

 once the milk flow has been allowed to decline. 



477. How much to feed. As winter approaches, the condi- 

 tions that prevailed in early summer must be provided by the 

 feeder. The first condition to be looked after is that of furnish- 

 ing an abundance of palatable feed. It is a poor practice not to 

 give a cow the amount of feed required to produce all the milk 

 she is capable of producing. The effect of underfeeding may 

 not be noticed at once, because a cow will produce milk for a 

 time at the expense of her body ; that is, some of the surplus 

 fat and flesh of her body will be converted into milk. If a cow 

 declines in weight while producing milk, it shows that she is 

 being underfed. A cow that is overfed will soon reveal the fact 

 by becoming fat or getting ''off feed." All cows in the ordinary 

 herd are usually given the same amount of feed. Under such 

 conditions, some cows are overfed, while others are underfed, 

 but underfeeding is more common than overfeeding. 



478. Feed silage or roots in winter. Another condition of 

 summer feeding which should be closely maintained during the 

 winter is that of providing a succulent ration, such as silage or 

 roots. Such feed has a value in addition to the nutrients it 

 furnishes. It serves to keep the digestive organs of the animal 

 in good condition and possibly aids digestion. 



479. Feed a bulky ration. The main object in formulating 

 a ration, after selecting the feeds to be used, is to provide a suffi- 

 cient bulk at all times to satisfy the appetite and feeding capac- 

 ity of the animal and to furnish the amount of nutrients needed 

 for the work the cow is doing. If the ration lacks bulk, the cow 

 will be "discontented." A cow should have all the roughage 

 she will eat at all times, and the richer the roughage, the larger 

 the amount of grain which will be saved, and the more the 

 energy of the cow will be conserved. 



