54 DAIRYING 



milk secretion. A consumption of large quantities of water either 

 m feed or as a result of feeding salt to such an extent as to make 

 cows drink more water, fails to increase the milk flow or to 

 diminish the per cent, of solids in the milk. 



There is a limit to the amount of concentrated feed and of 

 protein that should be given cows for the purpose of increasing 

 their milk flow, as a point will be reached at which the Increase in 

 milk is not sufficient to pay for this increased feed and when there 

 is no further gain in milk it may be assumed that the feed is suf- 

 ficent for a maximum flow of milk. A feeding rule for cows has 

 been suggested that is based on the amount of milk given. This 

 rule is to feed as many pounds of grain per day as the milk of the 

 cow contains pounds of butter fat per week, or one-third to one- 

 fourth as much grain as the cow gives pounds of milk per day> 

 varying it according to the richness of the milk. If a cow gives 

 30 pounds of milk testing 4% fat the amount of grain she may be 

 fed per day according to this rule is either one-third of 30, 10 

 pounds ; or one-fourth of 30, 7.5 pounds when the calculation is 

 based on the amount of milk given. If based on the richness as 

 well as the weight of milk, the amount of grain to be fed per day 

 is found as follows: 30x4% equals 1.2 pounds of fat in the dairy 

 milk, and seven times this figure (1.2x7) ' ls 8.4 pounds of grain. 



The butter fat in the milk is a better basis than the weight of 

 milk only for calculating the amount of grain to be fed a cow, as it 

 takes the richness of the milk and the consequent increase in ac- 

 tivity of the milk glands into consideration. When fed by this 

 rule a cow is supposed to be given all the roughage or coarse feed 

 such as hay, silage, roots, etc., that she will eat. By regulating the 

 amount of grain or concentrated feed that a cow may have, she is 

 permitted in this way to satisfy her appetite on the coarse feed and 

 thus use her judgment as to the amount of feed she needs. 



210. The palatability of the feed is all-important, as cows will 

 not eat spoiled hay, although such hay may contain a sufficient 

 quantity of nutrients to produce milk. The addition of grain or 

 something that tempts the cow's appetite will sometimes induce her 

 to eat such spoiled hay, but these same appetite-exciters will not 

 be needed to increase the consumption of well-cured, palatable 

 feed. The condition of the animal will also have an effect on the 



