APPENDIX III 223 



and have milked well, the calves produced being healthy and 

 normal in everv way. All fodder is given without cutting or 

 pulping, to save labour, a method which is quite equal to the 

 usual practice when the stock have become accustomed to it ; 

 however, aged cows which have been fed on pulped fodder 

 do not thrive well during the first year, neither do cows taken 

 indoors from grass. The soiling should commence im- 

 mediately after the winter season. Cows taken in from grass 

 mav not settle down fur some time, when the milk yield will 

 rapidly fall. It is much better to place the cows under the 

 system before calving rather than during the lactation period. 

 The green fodder is given in racks, three times daily, the 

 amount to be given is judged from the fullness of the animal, 

 and no definite weights can be given, as cows diff'er in their 

 requirements, and certain crops fill the animals more readily 

 than others. The weight of green fodder given has varied 

 from 70 lbs. to 120 lbs. per day, the latter amount being the 

 greatest weight fed. When more than 90 lbs. per day is given 

 a considerable waste occurs. It appears to be quite impossible 

 to injure cows by overfeeding with green fodder, providing 

 they do not scour. If they begin to scour, dry pea and oat 

 hay should be fed with the green fodder, and the quantity 

 reduced. Cattle can only safely take a limited quantity of 

 water, and when the fodder is wet they may be forced to take 

 too much, and scour will result. Milk yield depends on a 

 generous allowance of green fodder ; in all cases when the 

 green fodder allowance was reduced below 80 lbs. per head 

 per day a sharp fall in yield was noticed. Concentrated foods 

 are always given to the cows in milk ; it is an error to suppose 

 heavy yielding cows can be maintained in condition and yield 

 on the fodder crops only, in spite of their rich composition. 

 Frosted cabbage or kale can be fed safely, if tiiey do not cause 

 the animals to scour, but mangels that have been frozen are 

 most harmful, and cause serious injury when given to stock. 

 Of the green fodder used, the pea is the most effective in milk 

 production. Pea mi.xtures have given consi.stently the best 

 results since the commencement of the experiment. An 



