278 



FEEDS AND FEEDING, ABRIDGED 



fed to dairy cows, the former having the higher value per ton on ac- 

 count of their less watery nature. Rutabagas and turnips should be 

 fed immediately after milking to avoid tainting the milk. 



Many breeders esteem roots highly for cows which are being forced 

 to the utmost production on official tests. They have a "cooling" 

 effect on the digestive organs, helping to prevent digestive trouble when 

 cows are fed all the rich concentrates they will consume. In addition, 

 adding roots even to a palatable ration containing good corn silage 

 seems to slightly increase the yield of milk and fat. This small in- 



FiG. 77. — Feeding Green Corn to Keep Up the Milk Flow 



If additional feed is not supplied when pastures become parched in mid- 

 summer, the milk flow will surely decrease and it will not be possible to bring 

 the cows back to their normal yield even should the pastures improve later. 



crease may make such feeding of roots advantageous for breeders seek- 

 ing high records. The practice will rarely be economical for dairy- 

 men in general, for the Michigan Station ^*' has shown that the addi- 

 tional milk produced thereby will not pay for the roots fed. 



Potatoes. — A heavy allowance of potatoes produces milk of poor 

 flavor. They may be used with success, however, when not over 

 about 33 lbs. of cooked potatoes are fed per head daily, or somewhat 

 less of the raw tubers. 



16 Shaw and Norton, Mich. Bui. 240. 



