FEEDING FOR OFFICIAL RECORDS 51 



since the strain of forcing them for high production the first 

 lactation may keep them from growing normally during the 

 period. The heifer must be fed from the start so that she will be 

 as well developed as possible at calving. 



87. The fitting ration.— The ration during the fitting 

 period should consist of a good grain mixture together with 

 pasture or hay and silage. Legume hay is the kind to use and the 

 quality should be the best. In feeding for records the dairyman 

 should adopt the attitude that the cow is to have the best feed 

 obtainable without regard to price. He cannot afford to waste the 

 money he spends for official supervision and other extra labor and 

 expense by economizing on the feed. 



There must be succulent feed during the fitting period to keep 

 the animal in the best condition. If pasture or silage are not 

 available roots will prove satisfactory if they are to be had. 

 Roots are especially useful during the test period and if the feeder 

 has only a limited supply they must be saved for that period. 

 Beet pulp moistened with three to four times its weight of water, 

 to which a little molasses has been added, will prove useful in the 

 absence of other succulence. 



The grain mixture should be light, palatable, laxative and not 

 too high in protein. A good mixture is: 



30 lbs. hominy 



30 lbs. wheat bran 



30 lbs. ground oats 



10 lbs. oil meal 

 Many prefer to increase the oil meal sufficiently to use equal parts 

 of the four feeds. Corn meal can be substituted for hominy except 

 during the week or ten days immediately before calving. At this 

 time corn meal and hominy should be dropped out to lighten the 

 ration. Ground barley can be used in place of the oats or hominy. 



88. Feed individually. — An important thing during the test 

 period is to feed the cow the things she likes best. With an 

 animal whose tastes are not known, the best time to find out is 

 during the fitting period and it is well to dry different combina- 

 tions for this purpose. 



