FEEDING MILK COWS 



473 



quantity of feed is increased, and becomes very small near the 

 upper limits of the capacity of the animal. 



For the production of one pound of milk, an animal requires 

 about 0.05-0.065 pounds proteids, and 0.05-0.07 pounds produc- 

 tive value, in addition to maintenance requirements. Milk contains 

 o.i 8 per cent, lime and 0.15 per cent, phosphoric acid. Only about 

 one-third of the lime and phosphoric acid is digested, so that id 

 pounds of milk would require about 25 grams each of lime and 

 phosphoric acid. To this must be added the maintenance re- 

 quirements of 45 grams of lime and 22 grams of phosphoric acid 

 per 1,000 pounds. The requirements for phosphoric acid are 

 generally met by the food, especially when meadow hay, clovers, 

 or good green fodders are used, but the requirements for mineral 

 matter must not be entirely left out of consideration. Precipitated 

 phosphate of lime may be used if the ration is deficient in lime 

 and phosphoric acid. If deficient in lime alone, precipitated 

 chalk will supply the deficiency. 



The following are the amounts of nutrients desirable per day 

 and 1,000 pounds live weight for milk cows: 



The figures given above for the productive value are for pro- 

 duction at the maximum capacity of the animal. For a slightly 

 smaller production, the productive value may be reduced 5 to 10 

 per cent. The Wisconsin Experiment Station 1 recommends as 

 a good working rule, to feed as many pounds of concentrates 

 (grain feeds) each day, as the cow produces pounds of butter fat 

 per week, in addition to as much roughage as she will eat up 

 clean. 



1 Bulletin No. 200 ; Research Bulletin No. 13. 

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