26 BETTER DAIRY FARMING 



cow peas, corn, alfalfa, various clovers and the smaller grasses. 

 (385, 386) 



We certainly believe that the dairyman should do his best to 

 grow enough corn for silage so he will have some silage for summer 

 feeding. It is, in general, his cheapest succulence, yield per acre 

 and labor involved considered. Without silage he should try to 

 grow some green crops. Perhaps if he has some silage he can com- 

 bine the two. 



It is more important that the cow receive succulent feed than 

 that she get hay, but the latter can be fed also to advantage. 

 The less succulence available the more hay should be fed. If 

 none is available, hay must be depended upon. Clover or alfalfa 

 is better than other hay for reasons w T e have previously stated. 



48. The additional feed needed. — Remember that the cow 

 in milk uses from 40 to 60 per cent of her ration for maintenance, — 

 that is for carrying on her body processes. The remainder goes 

 into milk. If, due to poor pasture and no supplemental feed, the 

 cow gets only about half the feed she ought to have, this feed will 

 be used mostly for maintenance and her milk production will 

 nearly if not entirely stop. 



The amount of other feed needed will depend on the condition 

 of the pasture and the milk flow of the cow. Where the pasture 

 is still good, feed one pound of grain for every six or eight pounds 

 of milk. Feed about five times as much silage or green crops as 

 grain where no hay is fed. Hay can replace a part of this succulence 

 at the rate of one of hay to five of succulence. Thus, if all hay 

 must be fed it should about equal the grain. As the pasture gets 

 poorer, the amount of feed must be increased. 



49. Dry cows need additional feed. — In specifying that 

 there should be a certain amount of supplementary feed per unit 

 of milk produced we do not mean that the dry cow should have 

 none. On good pasture the dry cow needs no extra feed but as the 

 pasture fails she must have an adequate amount to fatten her up 

 and put her in good condition for calving, and for the next lacta- 

 tion period. On very poor pasture the dry cow w T ill need three to 

 five pounds of grain a day and silage or hay in proportion. 



