DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 703 



pasturage, barley sprouts and bran costing $161.08, being $8.94 to each cow, 

 reducing the proceeds to $63.85 for each cow, which I still think is a prettj 

 good average. 



Notice the point, however, that he feeds extra, as recommended in the next 

 item, and by all dairymen, so far as I know, to make up for short pasture. He 

 claims too, that he got more from his extra feed, than simply making up for 

 the shortage of the grass, besides keeping his cows in good condition, and good 

 heart, for the full supply of grass after the fall rains set in. Mr. Pierce says 

 in his communication: " I raise my own cows," claiming that cows may be 

 purchased for less money than it will cost to raise them, but many of these will 

 be dear at any price. Then raise them, and raise the best you can. In this 

 report Mr. Pierce made another remark which I consider of the utmost im- 

 portance, i. e., that "cows which do not come in until they are 3 years old, 

 make much better milkers, than those that come in at 2." He closes with this 

 important exhortation: " Brother farmers, don't be afraid of feeding your cows 

 too well. I hope to do better next year." 



Dairy Cows, to Feed Liberally.— The importance of feeding dairy 

 cows liberally, more especially when pasture is short, was recently shown so 

 satisfactorily by the National Live Stock Journal, I will give all its principal 

 points, although largely condensed. The editor starts out with the idea that 

 dairymen should study to produce all the food necessary far his cows upon the 

 farm, using his most intelligent foresight to this end; but that he should never 

 suffer them to go with deficient food, even for 1 week; for this he cannot 

 afford to do. Hence, he says, when pasture is short, and he has no extra green 

 feed for them, let us compare the cost of nutriment in some by-product, such 

 as bran, cotton seed meal, linseed meal, corn meal, etc., some of which he can 

 always find near at hand, with pasture grass. Pasture grass, he continues, has 

 about 80 per cent, of water; and the nutriment of 100 lbs. of it is supiwscd to 

 be worth 21 cents. The nutriment of 19 lbs. of fine bran, or 19 lbs. of corn 

 meal, is just equal to 100 lbs. of grass. Cotton seed meal, 10 lbs. ; linseed 

 meal, 12 lbs., have just the same nutriment. Then, as 100 lbs. of grass are 

 considered a ration for an ordinary sized cow, per day, it is easy to get at the 

 proper amount of substitute; for if J^ or % short, in the bite of grass, take the 

 proportionate amount of the kind of feed, in pounds, daily, to make up the 

 deficiency; which any dairyman can calculate for himself, knowing how much 

 short the grass is. Let us suppose the dairyman is feeding 7 lbs. of fine bran; 

 this, at $8 per ton, would cost 2| cents per day, or 19| cents per week. Now, 

 the extra milk per week, would more than pay the cost. Besides, he might 

 have added, it keeps the cow from falling off in flesh, and losing heart, or 

 vital activity. But, he continues, if he should feed, instead of bran, 4 lbs. of 

 linseed meal, daily, it would cost him 28 cts. per week; or if Z% lbs. of cotton 

 seed meal, it would cost 22 cts. per week, or Q% lbs. of corn meal, it would 

 cost from SO to 35 cts. per cow a week. If he has a command of all these, let 

 him make up a ration nearly as follows: 4 lbs. of bran, }^ lb. linseed meal, and 

 1% lbs. corn meal, to each cow per day, which vdll, in most cases, cost only 20 

 cents per -^cek ; and will keep up a generous flow of milk till the fall rains 



