FEEDING THE DRY COW 5 



under caps preserves the factor better than long exposure in the 

 windrow. (38) 



A further question arises as to whether the dry cow should re- 

 ceive a source of lime and phosphorus in addition to her feed. 

 With a good grain mixture liberally fed and ample legume roughage 

 we have no proof that such addition will help, at least until we 

 know more definitely how to cure the roughage so as to preserve 

 the factor mentioned. With poorer roughage we think it may be 

 advantageous to add a source of lime, at least, to the grain ration. 

 Pure, finely ground limestone is a cheap and readily available 

 source. Both lime and phosphorus are supplied by steamed bone 

 meal or by ground rock phosphate. AVhere the dry cow is on 

 pasture, we would add one of the above mineral sources to take 

 advantage of the factor aiding assimilation supplied by the grass. 

 We suggest feeding two to four ounces per day. 



14. Liberal feeding good insurance.— We have advocated 

 liberal feeding during the dry period. It means a stronger calf 

 and a good send-off for the next lactation. A good dairy cow will 

 return to the milk pail in quantity of milk and in fat content the 

 fat put on her back during the dry period. We have stressed the 

 use of silage and legume hay. Every dairyman should try to grow 

 more of these feeds. They seem to us essential for profitable milk 

 production and in Part V we give some suggestions as to the grow- 

 ing and handling of these crops which it is hoped will aid many 

 farmers to have a larger supply of these essential feeds. However, 

 we know that many dairymen have only a limited supply of legume 

 hay and silage, particularly in certain years. The alternative is to 

 use the best roughage available, bearing in mind that the poorer 

 the roughage, the more grain is needed. 



Where the dry cow is on pasture, of course she does not require 

 the feeding we have outlined. Where the pasture is good, she 

 needs no additional feed, but as the pasture fails, both grain and 

 roughage should be given. Where little feed is obtained from the 

 pasture the supplementary feeding should be nearly as liberal as 

 that we have suggested for stable conditions. In Chapter III feed- 

 ing on pasture is taken up in detail. (49) 



