18 



How TO AVOID Overfeeding. 

 While the statement and illustration given applies to one 

 class of dairy cows, there is another class to which it does not 

 apply, and with which it would lead to a serious mistake in 

 feeding from an economical standpoint. This group includes 

 those of lower productive capacity wdiich are liable to be over- 

 fed, especially when they are in the herds of dairymen who 

 realize the necessity of liberal feeding. The proper feeding of 

 this group of animals can perhaps be made clearer by the 

 following illustration: — 



Table 10. — Cow of Lower Productive Capacity liable to be overfed. 



Full Ration. 



Used for 

 Ration of Maintenance. Milk Production. Body Fat. 

 a b c d 



Economical Ration. 



Used for 

 • Ration of Maintenance. Milk Production. 



The line a to d represents the amount of feed that an animal 

 of this class will consume; a to b represents the ration of main- 

 tenance as before. In this case, however, the capacity for 

 making milk is not equal to the capacity of the animal for 

 utilizing feed in excess of that required to maintain the body. 

 The amount which the animal is capable of utilizing for milk 

 production is represented by that portion of the line b to c, 

 while the animal's appetite is equal to the total line a to d. This 

 gives a surplus, c to d, which is not utilized for milk production, 

 but which will be used for storing fat on the animal's body, and 

 we will have the cow gaining in weight while she is producing 

 milk. This gain in weight will be of no service so far as milk 

 production is concerned, except that it is of some value as a 

 reserve material to be drawn upon at some other time when 

 feed is not supplied in sufficient amounts, and it is not eco- 

 nomical nor desirable to fatten dairy animals with the expensive 

 feeds which are fed dairy cows. That portion of the feed 

 represented by the line c to d should be taken from the ration. 

 This means reducing her feed to take off the amount used for 



