FEEDING DAIRY CATTLE 



247 



per head daily (Figs. 51 and 52). Only exceptionally large pro- 

 ducers will give good returns for more than six or eight pounds of 

 grain feed daily, with abundant roughage of good quality at hand. 

 A common rule is to feed as many pounds of grain feeds a day per 

 head as the cows produce pounds of butter fat during the week, 

 and to feed as much roughage in addition as they will eat up 

 clean . 



FIG. 51. The "meal cart" used for weighing concentrates for the individual cows in the 

 herd. (Ottawa Station.) 



Rations for Dairy Cows. It is important, in making up 

 rations for dairy cows, as for other classes of farm animals, to see 

 to it that a liberal amount of easily digestible substances is sup- 

 plied; nearly one-half of the dry matter of the ration should be 

 given in the form of concentrated feeds in case of milch cows, the 

 amount fed being governed primarily by the production of the 

 cows. No moldy or decayed feeds should be fed, and, in the case of 

 wet feeds, particular attention must be given to keeping clean the 

 mangers and the premises about the stable. A variety of feeds is 



