FEEDING AND CARE OF DAIRY COWS 



259 



The proper concentrate allowance. — A good dairy cow in full 

 flow of milk is expending fully as much energy as a horse at hard 

 work, and hence should not be expected to get all her nourishment 

 from roughages, even if of good quality. How much concentrates 

 to feed is a question of great economic importance to dairymen, for 

 in most eases roughages are the cheap and concentrates the costly 

 part of the ration. The amount of concentrates advisable depends 

 first on the quantity and quality of the roughages furnished ; and 

 second, on the productive capacity of the cows. For the most 



Fig. 73. — Imitate Summer Conditions the Year Round 



The most successful dairymen imitate summer conditions as closely as possible 

 during the rest of the year. 



economical production and the largest profit, cows of good dairy 

 temperament should generally receive at least 6 to 8 lbs. of concen- 

 trates, in addition to all the good roughage, such as legume hay and 

 corn silage, that they will consume. Exceptional producers can use 

 more concentrates with profit, but, if concentrates are high-priced, 

 cows of only low productive capacity may not pay for any grain in 

 addition to good legume hay and corn silage. The dairyman who 

 persists in giving his cows only such low grade roughages as tim- 

 othy hay, corn stover, etc., must pay the penalty by feeding them 



