24 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



fail. In fact there are many who think that heavy producing 

 cows should have some grain even when the pasture is at its best. 



It is our belief that the biggest return the farmer will get for 

 time and money spent in connection with his herd is that from 

 giving his cows a little extra feed and care as the hot weather 

 comes on and the pastures become poor. Along in July and August 

 the pasture fails, the flies become troublesome, there may be a lack 

 of shade or insufficient water near at hand, and it is no wonder 

 that they cannot keep up their milk flow. 



The cow which falls off in milk does not easily come back. Thus, 

 underfeeding her on pasture means less milk not only then but 

 for the rest of the lactation period. She may dry off a month or 

 two earlier than she would have with a little more feed. Further, 

 starving her at this time means less milk in the next lactation 



so. A little extra feed means more milk at the time, more milk 



* : «pr the rest of the lactation period, a stronger calf and better 

 *jj 55fondition for the next lactation period. 



S3 Cj 45> Grain on pasture. — It is a good rule to remember that 



^after July 1, the cow on pasture should have some extra feed. 



C ,g This feed should consist of grain, and hay and silage or green 



-• crops. The grain mixture should have 30 to 50 per cent of high- 



5 ^ protein feeds depending on the quality of the pasture and the 



* ^* kind of other feed. The following mixture will give excellent 



' - J results under most conditions: 



300 lbs. wheat bran 

 300 lbs. hominy 

 200 lbs. gluten feed 

 100 lbs. oil meal 

 Where the pasture is very poor and good roughage is not to be had, 

 a mixture which contains more protein should be used. The- fol- 

 lowing is suggested: 



100 lbs. ground oats 



100 lbs. corn meal 



100 lbs. wheat mixed feed or bran 



200 lbs. gluten feed 



100 lbs. cottonseed meal 



