CARE AND FEEDING OF DAIRY CATTLE. 



35 



of 10% Ib. per day. Of roughage she consumed 12,650 Ib. silage, 5,560 Ib. mangels, 

 and 8,956 Ib. hay, mostly clover. The cost of feed alone, including the eight weeks 

 she was dry before calving, was no less than $135, but her yield of butter-fat alone 

 was worth over $270. This cow was fed in the stable all year and received no green 

 feed of any kind. Her highest day's yield was 77 Ib. and the lowest 40 Ib. 



MEAGRE AND LIBERAL FEEDING. 



For a year acurate records were taken of a herd of poorly fed cows kept by a 

 farmer in New York State. The herd was then removed to the Cornell Experiment 

 Station, where it was liberally fed for two years. Then it was returned to the 

 farmer, who fed them poorly as before. The returns for these seven cows were as 

 follows : - 



By good feeding and care 42 per cent, more milk and 51 per cent, more butter- 

 fat was obtained by the Station herdsman. The per cent, of fat in the milk was 

 increased only ^ of 1 per cent, by the liberal feeding. 



FEED AND RICHNESS OF MILK. 



We have now come to know that 

 the milk of each cow has a fixed 

 inherent composition which cannot 

 be controlled by changing the feed. 

 Feeding large quantities of fatty food 

 may cause an increase in the per 

 cent, of butter-fat in the milk, but 

 In a week or two the milk will be of 

 normal composition again, although 

 there may be more of it. A cow in 

 extra good condition at calving will 

 give richer milk than when thin. 

 When drying off, the milk may be 

 richer than earlier in lactation. The 

 shorter the periods between milkings, 

 the richer the milk. Sudden changes 

 of feed or excitement may cause the 

 milk to be richer or poorer than usual. 

 Often, when the per cent, of fat in- 

 creases, the quantity of milk given 

 decreases, so that the total yield of 

 fat is not increased. 



IMPORTANCE OF LIME AND MINERAL 

 MATTER. 



It has been found by experiment 

 that a cow yielding 30 Ib. of milk 

 excreted each day in the milk and 

 manure nearly 2 oz. of lime. Salt, 



Thin thighs, well arched on the insides to give 

 room for a large udder. 



lime, and phosphorus are the substances most often lacking. Ordinarily the rations 



