68 THE CREAMERY PATRON'S HANDBOOK. 



One in uncomfortable quarters will use more than one that is made com- 

 fortable. 



The factors generally used to express the daily needs of a cow weigh- 

 ing 1,000 pounds, for food of support, is of protein .7 of a pound, carbo- 

 hydrates 8 pounds, and of ether extract or fat .1 of a pound. These are 

 used by the author with the exception that, of carbohydrates, only 7 pounds 

 are allowed because there is ample proof that.it is sufficient and more than 

 enough for this purpose. Especially is this the case with American food 

 stuffs that contain fatty matters in excess. 



PRACTICAL FEEDING SUGGESTIONS. 



COMPOUNDING RATIONS. The object in formulating a ration is to 

 provide sufficient bulk to satisfy the appetite and feeding capacity and 

 furnish the amount of each nutrient needed for the work a cow is doing. 

 If the ration lacks in bulk she will be discontented ; if it contains an excess 

 of nutriment needed for the maintenance of the body and milk yielded, a 

 gradual gain in weight will follow, and if it is short of the required amount of 

 nutriment there will be a decrease in the flow of milk. 



PROPORTION OF ROUGHAGE TO CONCENTRATES. Since it is highly im- 

 portant that a cow should, at all times, have enough food to satisfy the ap- 

 petite, the proportion of coarse feed to grain must be adjusted to her actual 

 needs. When she is dry or yielding a small mess of milk, but little grain 

 will be needed, ay from 2 to 4 pounds daily with enough coarse feed to 

 satisfy her. If she is doing just medium work, one-third of the nutrients 

 should be provided by the concentrates and two-thirds by the roughage; 

 when in full flow and giving a large yield, about half the nutrients in the 

 ration should be provided by the concentrates. If it is the aim to retain a 

 cow in the dairy during her natural life, this proportion should be main- 

 tained; but if a maximum yield for only a few years is desired, two-thirds 

 of the nutrients may be provided by the concentrates. Such methods of 

 feeding may be practiced with advantage where cows are purchased for 

 the purpose of using them one or two years in a dairy and then replacing 

 them with others fresh in milk. 



PALATABILITY. In formulating a ration due regard should be had to 

 its palatability. A cow will give better return if she relishes her food. It 

 stimulates the appetite and aids digestion. To this end forage should be 

 cut early and not exposed to sunshine any longer than is absolutely ne- 

 cessary. Dews and sunlight in alternation will bleach forage, reduce its 

 palatability and digestibility. The ration should be composed of a reason- 

 able number of feed stuffs, since a mixture is relished better than only one 

 kind of grain or roughage, though frequent changes in a ration should be 

 avoided since this causes imperfect digestion and assimilation. So adjust 

 the supply of food that the ration can be made from two kinds of roughage 

 and several varieties of grain and then make no more changes during the 

 the winter than is necessary. If an appetizing, well balanced, fixed ration 

 can be fed all winter, better results will be obtained than by frequent changes 



