CARE AND FEEDING OF DAIRY CATTLE. 39 



ALFALFA- MEAL. 



If alfalfa is cut when starting to flower, raked up the same day, and properly 

 cured by leaving in the cock four or five days, it is almost equal to bran in feeding 

 value. Moal from such hay as this appears quite green. When whitish, strawy 

 specks appear, it indicates that the alfalfa has been allowed to get woody and has 

 probably lost the leaves, which are the most valuable part. The feeding value of 

 such alfalfa is much depreciated. It is not wise to pay more than the price of bran 

 for alfalfa-meal, unless for some special purpose. 



MIXED FEEDS. 



These often contain a poor quality of alfalfa-meal, waste hulls, and the like, 

 and should only be bought after a study of the guaranteed analysis, which, according 

 to law, should appear on the sacks. 



RICE-MEAL. 



This feed is rich in fat, but very poor in protein and mineral matter. Hogs 

 fed largely on it are liable to have weak, spongy bones. It has, however, given good 

 results fed to cows in combination with other feeds rich in protein and mineral 

 matter. It should not contain rice hulls, which are practically worthless, and it 

 should not smell at all rancid. 



OAT FEED. 



Oat feed is a by-product from the rolled-oat factories. It contains quite a large 

 percentage of indigestible fibre or hull. 



STOCK-FOODS. 



Hundreds of thousands of dollars are annually paid out by farmers for different 

 brands of proprietary condimental or stock foods. Authorities claim that by far 

 the greater part of this is money wasted, as farm animals usually have appetites 

 which do not need stimulating, and, if sick or out of condition, they should get 

 specific treatment rather than be given some doubtful " cure-all." In rare cases 

 where an animal is out of condition and without appetite some spice may prove 

 helpful. In " Feeds and Feeding," Professor W. A. Henry gives the following 

 formula : 



Powdered gentian 8 Ib. 



Ginger 8 ,. 



Fenugreek 8 



Powdered sulphur 8 



Potassium nitrate 8 



Resin 8 



Cayenne pepper 4 



Linseed-meal 44 



Powdered charcoal 20 ,, 



Common salt 20 



Wheat bran 100 



This formula can be made up for about a quarter of the cost of the stock-foods 

 usually sold, and, Professor Henry says, will supply more drugs of value. Feed 

 a tablespoonful with each feed. 



PASTURE MIXTURES. 



Probably not enough attention is paid to the production of suitable hay and 

 pasture, the most important dairy crops. Cows are more cheaply fed on pasture 

 than in any other way. Too often, after slashing and burning, the logged-off land 

 is left to grow a crop of weeds and brush, when by seeding it down to grass and 



